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shibaincubus · 4 months ago

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How to change your life with Gamification

Disclaimer stat point and daily quest (points) are used interchangeably and are different from main/side quest (points)

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You may have already heard about Gamification. It’s a strategy in which you use game mechanics,elements and principles to apply them to your everyday life to enhance your performance, studying etc.

But how should I use this technique to get the most of my life?

This is a guide for implementing Gamification in your life and thoroughly explains the process.

In my guide I am inspired by manhwa systems like in the solo leveling manhwa. Normally a system gives you stats such as strength which one can upgrade and become stronger. Upgrading is archived by quests that give you exp which also can increase your Rank e.g from F Rank to E Rank all the way to S Rank or higher. Quests are differentiated between daily quests and non daily quests. There are more functions such as items and gold but for the basic setup they are not needed

First you need to create your stats. In the solo leveling manhwa there are six stats: Strength, Vitality, Agility, Intelligence and Sense. You should have six stats but you are not obligated to use the ones from solo leveling. Idk how you can implement Sense and Vitality.

I strongly recommend you to have a stat called Willpower which indicated if you did every quest that you set for yourself and how well you stick to the system as a motivation.

As you can see I copied the stats Strength, Intelligence and Agility from Solo Leveling and added Willpower, Discipline and Stamina.

Some other ideas for stats are:

Charm (Beauty stat: I would use this if you want to glow up)

Charisma (If you want to improve your social skills or want to speak ------------ more professionally etc. I would use this stat

Health: If you want to eat more healthily or want to diet or want to -------- get your sleep schedule right etc. I would use this stat

You can get creative and cater to your own needs

Now if you have your stats you have to create a daily quests with each of these stats

Here is my example:

My quests don't look like much but you have to gradually work yourself up to your goals. Someone who has never done e.g Pilates in their life can't do a 30 min Pilates workout from day one without loosing motivation in the long run. So if you want to e.g. get your sleep schedule right I would set your wake up time e.g. 5min earlier every cycle until you reach your goal and maintain it.

A cycle equals 21 days. If you finish a cycle you can reflect your performance and make the daily quests harder or change the stats if they don't fit into your goals. Especially your first cycle is more of a test and try period. But you should keep your stats as they were and should not change them except if they really don't serve you.

Main/Side Quest stats:

These quests are quests like ''learn … language for 15min''. They are more of a to-do lists task.

I would use this formula for categorizing these tasks:

ASSIGNMENT (S) LIST

The ASSIGNMENTS

:::

CATEGORY: main/side exp etc.

DIFFICULTY: e.g. SSS

CLEAR CONDITION: e.g. finish all assignment(s)

TIME LIMIT: e.g. 7 hours

REWARD UPON COMPLEATION

:::

+2 exp

Stats in crease: e.g. Mentality +1 Intelligence +2 Motivation +1 Skill +1

PENALTY UPON FAILIURE

:::

all stats -1 (e.g.)

emotional damage e.g. +3

DURATION: e.g. 24 hours

Items confiscation …

DURATION: ???

Emotional damage stat explained:

This stat affects your conversion rate to points in the daily quest stat points. Normally the conversion rate is 10 e.g 10 main quest stat willpower point = 1 daily quest willpower stat point. Per +5 emotional damage you have to collect 5 extra points to converse the stat point

Example 10 points are needed in the main quest stats to converse to one stat point with a rate of 5 emotional damage point you need 15 points. A 10 point emotional damage point equals a 20 point conversion rate and so on.

How to decrease the emotional damage stat:

If you complete main/side quests as a reward you get -1 emotional damage point which you can use to get your emotional damage point to a good level. Emotional damage can't get into the negative.

The difference between daily quest stats or stats and main/side quest stats and leveling up is explained below

Stats in/de- crease in the main/side quests doesn't affect the normal stats that we've established so you have to create a new stat page for the main/side quest stats to count the points.

Like this:

Ten points on e.g intelligence stat on this list equals one daily quest intelligence stat point.

The conversion rate is as such 10 to 1 which means if you have e.g ten agility points you get one agility stat point.

How to level up:

Every time you finish a daily quest you gain a point for the Stat (first pic) you can only gain one point per stat per day. If you gain 10 points at every stat in the daily quest stat you can level up. If you don't finish a quest you will loose 1 point from the stat that you would've gained one point from.

Ranking up:

First you have to choose a range from which you can level up e.g F to S Rank / F to SSS+ Rank etc. than you have to find a starting point which you gradually increase e.g 20 (start point) increases +20% per Rank up.

How to increase your Rank:

Completing all daily quests gives you 1 EXP while the EXP gain can value in main/side quest the rest is explained above.

Here's my example:

Zyklus is German for cycle which I just tracked here and is explained above.

Lastly you need something that motivates you and in Solo Leveling it was a Punishment Zone if sung jin woo doesn't complete his quests.

For myself if I don't complete 5/6 quests i have to do the punishment.

For the punishment you have to do something you detests (and strains your body)

My example are 150 burpees

A full page can look like this:

One last thing is that you can 100% customise this approach you can add coins items etc. which also exists in a system, change other things as you like but the foundation has to remain intact.

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fratttymatty · 7 days ago

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The Jock Within

(All characters are 18+)

Eric had always been the quintessential, gay nerd—glasses perched on his nose, books piled high, and an encyclopaedic knowledge of video games. He was perfectly content with his world of fantasy, where he could escape into realms of adventure and heroism. But in the real world, he often felt invisible, particularly around the confident jocks at school.

One Friday afternoon, while browsing a local comic book store, Eric stumbled upon an old, dusty book tucked away in a corner. Its cover was faded, with strange symbols that seemed to shimmer under the light. Intrigued, he flipped it open and began to read. The pages were filled with spells and incantations, and before he knew it, he had uttered a few words aloud, laughing at the ridiculousness of it all.

As he closed the book, a sudden wave of dizziness washed over him, and he stumbled backward. The world around him blurred, and he felt as if he was being pulled through a tunnel of light.

When the sensation faded, Eric found himself standing in front of a mirror, but the reflection that stared back was not his own. Gone were the glasses and the lanky frame. Instead, he saw a tall, muscular guy with chiseled features and a confident grin—Ethan, the kind of jock he had always envied.

“What the—?” Eric gasped, his voice deeper and more commanding. Panic surged through him. Had that book really done this?

He tried to piece together what was happening. His thoughts, once filled with strategies for studying and discussions about the latest sci-fi novels, now seemed to swirl with excitement for sports, workouts, first person shooters + minecraft, and social gatherings. He felt an urge to hit the gym and play basketball, something he had never cared for before. He also stopped thinking about dating boys, only seeing himself dating girls. He also felt very homophobic.

As he navigated this new body, Eric—now Ethan—decided to test his transformation. He strutted out of the store and headed to the local gym, his confidence building with every step. The stares he received felt entirely different; people were looking at him not with indifference but with admiration.

One striking change was his hair. Gone was the blonde side part that he had always worn; in its place was a tousled, messy hairstyle that seemed to embody the carefree spirit of a TikTok star. The dark brown locks framed his face perfectly, falling in soft waves that exuded a relaxed, effortless cool. It had a charming disarray to it, almost like he had just rolled out of bed but looked effortlessly stylish.

But the most dramatic shift was in his body. Eric had always been average height and skinny, but now he stood at a towering 6'2", his broad shoulders and muscular build radiating strength and vitality. His biceps were defined, and his chest was broad, giving him a powerful presence. He could hardly believe the reflection—Ethan looked like someone who belonged on a sports team, not sitting at home studying.

“Hey, man!” a voice called out. It was Brad, the captain of the basketball team. “You coming to practice today?”

Ethan grinned, feeling a surge of camaraderie. “Yeah, wouldn’t miss it!”

Practicing with the team was exhilarating. Ethan’s body moved with agility and power, and he quickly impressed everyone with his skills. The adrenaline coursed through him as he dunked a basketball, the rush igniting a fire within that Eric had never experienced.

But one of the biggest perks of his transformation came in the form of his new girlfriend, Cassie. She was the ultimate cheerleader—blonde, bubbly, and absolutely stunning, but not exactly known for her brains. With her long legs and toned physique, Cassie was everything Ethan could have dreamed of. She’d been flirting with him ever since he transformed, and now they were the picture-perfect couple.

“Like, oh my God, Ethan! You were, like, totally amazing out there!” Cassie squealed, her voice high-pitched and full of enthusiasm. She bounced on her toes, her cheerleading uniform hugging her curves perfectly. “I, like, can't believe how good you are at basketball! You’re, like, so strong and stuff!”

“Just natural talent, babe,” he replied with a cocky grin, flexing his biceps as if to emphasize his new physique. Jess’s eyes sparkled with admiration, and she leaned in, giving him a quick kiss that made sure all their friends were watching.

Ethan loved the attention, both from Cassie and the crowd. He had traded in his old life for one filled with popularity, and it felt exhilarating. Cassie was always by his side, her bubbly personality adding to his newfound status. “We should, like, totally throw a party at my place this weekend! Everyone will be there, and it’ll be, like, so much fun!” she said, her excitement contagious.

Days turned into weeks, and Ethan embraced his new life. He found himself in the centre of the social scene, surrounded by friends, and even dating the head cheerleader, who adored his newfound charm.

Ethan began to embrace not just the confidence but also the attitude that often came with it. He started to act more cocky, revelling in the attention and admiration he received. One afternoon, at lunch, he and his friends were joking around, and he caught sight of a couple of freshmen sitting at a nearby table.

“Hey, look at those losers!” Ethan laughed, nudging Brad. “What are they doing? Planning a Dungeons & Dragons campaign or something?” The table erupted with laughter, and the freshmen shrank back, embarrassed.

Ethan revelled in the power he felt, but a small voice inside him—Eric’s voice—simmered with discomfort. It was a stark contrast to the kindness and acceptance he had always valued. But the thrill of being the centre of attention was intoxicating, and he found himself pushing the boundaries of his new persona.

Days passed, and Ethan continued to grow more arrogant. He’d strut down the hallways, flexing his muscles, high-fiving his teammates, and belittling those he considered beneath him. At one point, he overheard a group of students discussing a new video game, and he couldn't help but interject.

“Video games? Seriously? Don’t you guys have something better to do? Like, I don’t know, actually live your lives? Go lift some weights or something. Living in your mom’s basement can’t be fun!” He laughed dismissively, and his friends joined in, further reinforcing his newfound bravado.

The next day at school, he walked through the hallways with his head held high. When he bumped into Brad, the basketball captain, Ethan smiled.

“Yo bro, wanna go to the gym later?!" Ethan said cockily.

Brad’s eyebrows shot up in surprise, then he grinned.

“You got it, man! Let’s hit the gym together!” Brad said excited.

As time went on, the memories of Eric—the late-night gaming sessions, the comic books, the quiet moments of joy—began to fade into the background. Ethan thrived in the social scene, basking in the admiration and respect he commanded. He was no longer just Eric the nerd; he was Ethan the jock, and he loved every second of it.

One afternoon, as Ethan lounged at the park with his friends, he realized he had no desire to return to his former self. The excitement of being part of the in-crowd, of being respected and admired, felt too good to give up. He looked around at the laughter and camaraderie he shared with his new friends and felt a deep sense of belonging.

In the end, Ethan never sought out the spellbook again. He had fully embraced his new identity, reveling in the thrill of being a jock. “Who needs to waste time with video games and comics when I can be out here dominating?” he said, flashing a cocky grin. “I’m living the dream, and let’s be real—I’m too good for that nerdy life. This is where the real fun is.”

With a swagger in his step, he walked away, fully confident in the fact that he was the king of the social scene. As he tossed a basketball to his friends and kissed Cassie one more time, she giggled and said, “You’re, like, the best, Ethan! Let’s totally keep this vibe going forever!”, he couldn’t help but feel that he had truly arrived. And as he stepped into the future, he knew he wouldn’t look back—because being Ethan was just too good to be true.

Months passed since Ethan had shed his old identity as Eric, and life had never been better. He thrived in the spotlight, effortlessly gliding through his days as the star of the basketball team and the center of attention at every party. The transformation had solidified his place in the social hierarchy, and he relished it.

Cassie was always by his side, her bubbly laughter ringing in his ears as they navigated the halls of school together. “Like, I can’t believe how amazing you are, babe! You’re, like, totally the best!” she’d gush, her enthusiasm infectious. Together, they became the ultimate power couple, a fixture at every event.

One afternoon, as Ethan lounged with his friends on the bleachers after practice, he looked out over the bustling campus. The sun cast a golden hue over everything, and he felt an overwhelming sense of satisfaction. He had left behind the insecurities and awkwardness of his past, fully embracing this new life filled with confidence and camaraderie.

As he flexed his muscles and tossed a basketball back and forth with Brad, Ethan couldn’t help but smirk. He had become everything he had once envied, and it felt amazing. The laughter of his friends, the adoration of the crowd, and the love of a girlfriend who idolized him—it was everything he had ever wanted.

Looking around, he realized there was no going back. The thought of returning to his nerdy roots felt foreign, almost laughable. “Who needs that?” he thought, a cocky grin spreading across his face. This was his life now, and he was more than ready to own it.

With Cassie leaning against him, her laughter ringing out like music, Ethan looked ahead with certainty. The future was bright, and he was ready to seize it, one slam dunk at a time.

#male tf story #male tf #gay to straight #smart to dumb #nerd to jock #nerd to gym bro

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chiqelatasblog · 1 year ago

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-> Chapter One is here.

-> Ao3 link is here.

Pairing : Sub-Zero | Bi-Han x Reader

Tropes : arranged marriage, slowish slow burn, enemies to lovers, angst, hurt/comfort, protective!bi-han

Summary : It was inevitable that this moment would come. Ever since your brother took over as the head of the Tengu, he had been waiting for the opportunity to eliminate the Lin Kuei.

And now, that opportunity had finally presented itself, with you as the key to making it happen.

P R O L O G U E : Shadows of Yin

You had always known that this day would come.

The long-standing feud between the Tengu Clan and the Lin Kuei Clan has reached a critical point, and as a member of the Tengu, you find yourself at the center of this conflict. Your brother, -the head of the clan-, had been waiting for the perfect opportunity to eliminate the rival clan, and that moment had finally arrived.

The Lin Kuei has long been considered the most deadly and powerful clan in the Arctika region, if not the world. Their training from a young age and their sheer numbers made them a force to be reckoned with. You have grown up understanding the threat that the Lin Kuei poses. The ongoing conflict between the two clans had resulted in numerous failed assassination attempts on the Lin Kuei, fueling your brother's determination to put an end to the threat once and for all.

And now, you are the most important part of his strategy.

As the only warrior woman in the Tengu, you possess a unique power - umbrakinesis, the ability to control and manipulate shadows. While the other warriors are trained to take lives without hesitation, you have always struggled with the idea of killing. Your aversion to violence has made you an outcast within your own clan. The memories of your father's attempt to end your life at a very young age still haunts you at night. And serves as a burning reminder of the rejection and shame you have endured within your own family.

Despite the challenges and prejudices you face, you have dedicated yourself to honing your skills in stealth and agility, becoming a formidable warrior in your own right. You have pushed yourself to the limits, training tirelessly to overcome the physical differences between you and the other warriors. Your determination and resilience have earned you calloused hands and scars, a stark contrast to the expectations of a noble woman in your clan.

Now, as you find yourself married to the leader of the Lin Kuei, you are presented with a mission that will test your loyalty to your clan and your own moral beliefs. Your brother sees this marriage as an opportunity to infiltrate and dismantle the Lin Kuei, and he expects you to play a crucial role in this dangerous game of deception and betrayal. This marriage was your ticket to infiltrating the Lin Kuei Clan and gaining their trust, all in the name of bringing vital information back to your brother. It was a dangerous and high-stakes mission, but you were determined to do it.

The promise of acceptance and recognition within your clan hangs in the balance, but at what cost?

Will you be able to navigate the treacherous path ahead without sacrificing your own honor, values and principles?

Can you betray the trust of the Lin Kuei, the very people you have been taught to see as enemies, in order to fulfill your brother's ambitions?

You had never failed a mission before, and you were not about to start now. This was your chance to finally earn the respect and recognition that had eluded you for so long. With a steely resolve, you swore an oath to see the mission through to the end. You would not be deterred by the challenges that lay ahead.

You were a warrior, and you were ready to prove yourself in the most crucial mission of your life.

#bi han x reader #bi han x you #arranged marriage #slow burn #kuai liang #tomas vrbada #lin kuei #ao3 #ao3 link #fandom #mk1 2023 #mk1 #mk1 bi han #mk x reader #mortal kombat #bi han sub zero #hurt/comfort

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wonucheers · 1 month ago

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The heart i left behind | Nishimura Riki

pairing: ni-ki / nishimura riki x reader

Synopsis: in high school, a girl develops a crush on a boy during their first sports club meeting. after facing rejection from another crush, she decides to start fresh and begins texting the boy anonymously. their friendship grows through late-night conversations and friendly waves in the hall. as they get to know each other, unexpected challenges arise, testing their connection and making things complicated. the girl navigates the ups and downs of their relationship, discovering her own feelings along the way.

wordcount: 1, 068

warnings: cliche, soft, bittersweet, non-suggestive, slowburn, base on true story

genre: romance drama, coming of age

©️wonucheers

part 1

I'm standing there, feeling a mix of nerves and excitement. I pulls at my friend sleeve, saying, “Hey, don’t leave me alone!”

“I can’t,” she reply, glancing toward the group. “The senior told us to gather already.”

“But I can’t do this…” i whispers, anxiety evident in her voice.

“No, you can. You’ll be fine,” she assure me, trying to keep my own nerves in check.

It was the first sports club meeting of the year. While she headed off to the athletic club, I was set on badminton. As I gather my things, the senior’s voice calls out, “Badminton club members, please return to the line. We will start our activities.”

I rush to the line, only to find someone sitting on the spot where I left my bag. “Um, sorry, I didn’t know this was your bag,” he says, looking a bit sheepish.

I’m taken aback. I’ve never met anyone quite like him. He wears a simple baby blue t-shirt and black tracksuit, yet his sharp features and lean frame stand out. His cheekbones catch the light as he turns to look at me, and I can’t help but notice his dark curls framing his deep-set, intense eyes. I nod, trying to play it cool, and move to another spot in the line.

Once the activities begin, the senior announces that those who can play should form doubles teams. My heart sinks because I’m not very good and decide to sit on the bleachers. But soon, he steps onto the court, and I can’t tear my eyes away.

The court buzzes with energy as players dash back and forth. He’s a tall figure dominating the net, smashes echoing like thunder. His partner, smaller yet agile, darts around the court with incredible speed. Their movements are fluid, a dance of strategy and skill. The crowd roars with every point, completely caught up in the excitement.

I’m so entranced by him that I lean over to the girl sitting next to me. “Do you know that guy’s name? The one in the blue shirt?”

“Oh, if I’m not mistaken, his name is Ni-ki. He’s a senior at my primary school.”

Ni-ki. The name sends a jolt through me, and I can’t shake off the impression he’s made.

Just when I think I’m lost in thoughts of Ni-ki, my actual crush, Sunghoon, appears. He’s also part of the badminton club, and just seeing him makes my heart flutter. We’ve been texting for a while, but we’ve never really talked face-to-face. It’s complicated, but I can’t help but feel a sense of belonging whenever I see him.

Today, I decide to take a leap of faith and text Sunghoon about my feelings. My heart pounds as I type, “Sunghoon, I wanted to tell you something… I’ve been thinking about you a lot lately, and I realized I have a crush on you.”

The three dots appear and disappear on the screen, and I can hardly breathe with anticipation. Finally, he replies, “Hi, thanks for telling me. I appreciate your honesty.”

My stomach drops. “So… what does that mean?” I type, my fingers trembling.

“I’m flattered, but I don’t feel the same way. I see you as a friend.”

The words hit me hard, and I manage to reply, “Okay, I understand.” He apologizes for hurting my feelings, and I try to assure him it’s fine. But inside, I’m crushed.

As soon as I close the chat, tears stream down my face. I can’t help but replay the conversation in my mind, his smile, the way he laughs—it all stings so much. Weeks pass, and though I try to move on, the ache in my chest remains, a constant reminder of vulnerability and heartache.

Moving on feels like trudging through a thick fog; each step is uncertain, and the path ahead looks blurry. Even the songs on the radio seem to haunt me with memories of him.

One day, my friend and I are heading to the canteen when I pass by Ni-ki again. The memory of him on the court floods back, and I can’t help but mention how attractive I think he is. “Why don’t you try him?” my friend suggests. “Maybe he could be a replacement for Sunghoon. Who knows? It might go well.”

Her words linger in my mind as I walk home.

On a random friday night, I make a bold decision. I text Ni-ki, but this time I’ll keep it a secret. My fingers hover over the keyboard, a rush of nervous energy surging through me. This is my chance to reach out, to finally connect with the boy I’ve admired from afar.

“Hey,” I type, feeling a mix of excitement and fear. “I know this is random, but I’ve been thinking about you lately. I’m your secret admirer.”

After hitting send, a wave of regret crashes over me. What if he thinks I’m weird? The three dots appear, disappear, then reappear. My heart races.

“Huh?” he replies, sounding surprised. “What is this?”

“It’s a long story,” I respond, my smile returning. “But I wanted you to know that i have some uncertain feelings for you..”

“Wow,” he says. “It’s my first time experiencing this…”

I can’t resist teasing him. “That’s a bit dramatic, don’t you think?”

“Maybe,” he admits. “But I’m definitely curious.”

“Well, now you know,” I reply. “But I’m still going to be your secret admirer. It’s more fun that way.”

“More fun?” he echoes, amusement evident in his tone. “Okay, I’m in. But how are we going to do this? Telegram or WhatsApp?”

“Telegram for now,” I suggest. “It’s easier to keep things anonymous. But maybe… we can switch to WhatsApp later.”

My heart skips a beat. Is it too soon to hope? The thought of him knowing it’s me, of him seeing my face, feels exhilarating.

We end up texting each other late into the night, sharing jokes and dreams. As I finally type, “Goodnight, sweet dreams,” I can’t help but feel a spark of hope igniting in my chest. Maybe this secret admirer thing could lead to something wonderful after all.

tbc.

#niki x reader #niki x y/n #niki x you #niki x oc #nishimura riki #ni ki fluff #niki enhypen #niki nishimura #nishimura riki x reader #nishimura riki x you #enhypen niki #sunghoon #sunghoon x reader #enhypen #enhypen fluff #idk man #the heart i left behind

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tbowaut · 2 months ago

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Shattering Mirror - Chapter 15 sneak peek

Tim has to learn how to roller skate for a mission, that's- yeah that's the context...

Over the next couple days, Tim's roller skating skills rapidly improved, their determination fueling their progress. Hours upon hours were spent in the mobility gym, with the sounds of wheels rolling across the polished floor echoing throughout. They started by perfecting the basics: maintaining balance, gaining speed, and turning with precision. Each repetition brought greater control and confidence and a rush of adrenaline they hadn’t realised they’d been missing. An excited grin grew tugged loose their lips as all the responsibility hushed quiet at the back of their mind.

As the sun rose and set, they soon incorporated agility exercises, deftly weaving through obstacle courses, ricocheting off inclines and performing daring acrobatic maneuvers on skates. Their body moved with grace and purpose, adapting to the newfound challenges.

With a firm grasp on movement, Tim advanced to wielding various weapons. Swords sliced through the air, and bo staffs spun with deadly accuracy as they honed their skills, seamlessly blending martial prowess with the fluidity of skating.

Finally, sparring sessions with Kon put Tim's abilities to the test. Blows were exchanged, and strategies were refined, all while balancing precariously on their skates. Through trial and error, Tim quickly adapted and before the hour was up they’d successfully kicked Kryptonian butt to Jupiter and back. As Kon glared at them from the floor, they snickered with a slight feeling of pride.

“Hey,” Kon pouted, taking their hand to help him to his feet, “ don’t get cocky, I got you like twice today,”

Humming non committedly in reply, Tim didn’t point out that it was 2/37, because really who was counting? Instead, they checked the time, finding only 4 minutes until they had to be across the mountain for the final mission briefing.

A playful smile slid on their face as they powered off the combat sensors for training. “Hey Kon,” They readied themself, angling toward the door. “Race ya,”

And then Tim was out the door, speeding down the halls and leaving Kon spluttering behind them. Cackling and knowing they had mere seconds until Kon was on their tail, Tim used every shortcut they could think of and closed every door in Kon’s way.

Rounding a corner they got to a long hallway with Arsonal and Green Arrow, arguing and blocking the way. With their speed, Tim made a quick calculation as inspiration struck; Kon would win otherwise, and they were ��maybe, debatably– competitive so with Newton on their side Tim gave it a shot.

They built up speed, and jumped– bracing their legs on the walls in a spilt they pointed their toes at and incline. And like holding their hand out in the wind, they rose to the ceiling –soaring over the two screeching heroes below– before they tilted down to build back speed and rocketed down the hall; using their momentum to launch off another wall and change direction around the next corner.

They could hear Kon gaining on them as the entryway to the briefing room glowed a blue light down the dimly lit hallway. With a straight shot, they left an opening for Kon, reaching for their bow staff. They hooked it in the pocket of Kon’s leather jacket when he passed, slingshotting themself into the room and across the finish line.

At the crazy speed of flying Kryptonian and then some, Tim was forced to jump the meeting table even as they skidded to a stop.

The room fell into a stunned silence as the squeal of Tim’s rubber wheels echoed off the walls. Nightwing's domino eyes widened momentarily before a smirk appeared on his face. "Looks like you had fun," he commented, amusement clear in his voice. “And you were complaining…” Tim couldn't help but return the smile with a shrug, still breathless from the exhilarating race.

Batman looked at Tim like they were the reason he was getting gray hair, giving Tim a long, suffering sigh as he gestured for them to take a seat. “I’m going to have to ban roller skates as well as skateboards in the manor.” He clicked, glaring at Dick who shrugged in response.

"We have a debriefing to start. Take your seats." He ordered, sweeping his cape in a tired way that meant Bruce was questioning why he ever had children.

Tim felt a wave of adrenaline ebb away, replaced with the familiar focus that came with the task at hand. They carefully maneuvered around the table, taking a seat beside their fellow teammates. Kon, red-faced and trying to hide a grin, settled into a chair next to Tim and Bart was vibrating in his chair on Tim’s otherside.

As everyone settled, Batman stood at the head of the table, his commanding presence filling the room. "Now that we're all here," he stated, his gaze sweeping across the assembled heroes, "let's–

Green Arrow burst into the room, giving Tim a haunted expression. “Batman! I think that one’s possessed” He accused pointing a finger, cupping his hand in a way that seemed to make him think Tim couldn’t hear he added in a whispering tone “...It can fly”

Bruce gave Tim a flat look that said ‘why are you like this?’ and Tim answered with an innocent shrug.

#tim drake #timkon #ao3 fanfic #kon el #red robin #batfam #batsiblings #batfamily #batman #nonsense #ao3 writer #ao3 link #fanfic #fanfiction #wip

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samcurrentlywriting · 5 months ago

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Outside our comfort zone

Summary: The Bad Batch are still cadets, and need to prove themselves worthy of the money and efforts the Kaminoans spend for them. So, one day, Tech decides to modify the parameters for the battle simulation.

Word count: 1610

Prompts: "Injured" (main prompt) & "Comfort zone" (alt prompt)

Notes: This is a very quick soft cadet au story that kind of fits both prompts! I hope you enjoy!! (Banners & dividers by @summer-of-bad-batch)

Crosshair is crawling like a snake in the ventilation shaft, an activity he has found himself doing more and more often. He is silent and agile, and likes to watch people when they can’t see him. Usually, he just tries to spy on regs that were mean to his brothers, and then spills all their secrets. But that day, he sees Nala Se, the chief Kaminoan scientist, and Lama Su, the prime minister, walking together to her office, and the young clone cannot stop himself from following them.

By the time he reaches the best position to eavesdrop, they have already begun talking.

“Clone Force 99 is too costly, and not efficient enough to be worth the effort.”

“They will improve, but they need training. The work we have done on their enhanced abilities is of utmost importance. We need to test its limits.”

Crosshair swallows. He’s glad he followed his instincts. They’re talking about his squad. And not positively. The clone cadet sighs. They have been trying their best. But between the constant bullying from the regs and the countless medical tests they are always doing, they barely have any time to practice their combat techniques.

“Their efficiency is too limited. They’re unpredictable, and therefore dangerous, we don’t know how much their mutations have impacted their programming.”

Nala Se tries to say something, but Lama Su cuts her short:

“Unless you can get them to expand their comfort zone, I’m afraid we will have to cease this experiment and terminate all the specimens.”

Crosshair’s heart skips a beat, and he doesn’t wait to hear if Nala Se defends them. He needs to go back to their quarters.

When he opens the door, he is relieved to see his brothers doing ok. Wrecker is working on disarming some smoke bombs Tech made for him. Tech is lying in his bed, eyes riveted to his datapad. Hunter is playing with his knife in the center of the room, looking in the void. As soon as Crosshair enters, Hunter stands up to greet him, and frowns when he notices how disturbed his youngest brother looks.

“What’s wrong?”

“I overheard the prime minister talking to Nala Se. He said that we’re not good enough to continue the experience. That we stay in our comfort zone during training, and that it’s too narrow, and that we’re unpredictable. If we don’t get better, they’re going to kill us!”

“They can’t do this! We’re already so much better than the regs!” Wrecker shouts, flexing his muscles.

Hunter doesn’t say anything, but he holds Crosshair in his arms. The youngest clone is already taller than him, but he knows sometimes all Crosshair needs is reassurance, and feeling protected.

“What do you suggest, Tech?” He asks once he’s let go of Crosshair.

The second-born readjusts his goggles.

“We have another training session tomorrow morning. Nala Se always sets up the parameters so that they are quite easy. I suppose she is worried about damaging us, since she spent so much time researching us. However, I could hack into the system and change the parameters, making the simulation harder. If we pass, we will have proven that we can, in fact, go beyond our comfort zone, as he put it.”

The four brothers look at each other, a silent agreement forming between them.

“Do it, Tech.”

“Don’t kill us either.” Crosshair grunts, suddenly feeling sick.

What if Lama Su is right? What if they aren’t good enough?

“There’s nothin’ in this facility that can kill us, ah!” Wrecker replies, before going back to his smoke bomb.

“We need to plan strategies.” Hunter dictates.

They spend most of the night preparing different plans depending on the situation. When they go to sleep, they’re all so tired they fall asleep immediately.

The next morning, they all wake up a bit giddy, worried that this is their last chance to prove their worth. Tech works on his datapad for a little while, before confirming that the parameters of their simulation have been successfully changed. Hunter gives them a little pep talk before they go for breakfast in the mess hall. Luckily, this is one of the few mornings where the regs have better things to do than to bully them. They go back to their quarters to gear up, and walk to the simulation room. They step onto the elevating platform, and wait for their turn. They can hear blaster sounds and shouts from the group before them.

Hunter frowns. They’re the only ones this age going for the simulation room. They are better than the regs. But he assumes the constant medical testing and the general process of making them were expensive. Being better than the regs isn’t enough for them. They need to be profitable.

A green light flashes above their heads, and they brace themselves for the short way up. The platform shakes and begins its ascension. They enter the large simulation room, and catch a glimpse of the very much adult clones leaving the place. The members of Clone Force 99 look barely older than twelve. Hunter breathes in deeply, then nodds to all his brothers. They can do this. In front of them, a red light turns on, and then a blue one. They spring into action.

Two seconds into the simulation, and they realize how different it already is. There are way more droids than usual, and they fire a lot. Hunter breathes in once more. When he’s calm and collected, he shouts:

“Plan forty-three!”

The four of them spring in action. Last night wasn’t the first time they devised plans. They heard a sergeant talk about a plan alpha once, and Tech thought it was a great idea to catalog all their strategies. Wrecker had the hardest time remembering the numbers, but he could guess which plan it was as soon as he saw how his brothers moved.

Crosshair climbs quickly on a nearby tower, avoiding the blasts from the droids below him. Hunter attacks the droids from the left, Tech from the right, and Wrecker runs through them in the center. They move to the second half of the room within minutes.

There is a tower they need to conquer. Hunter can feel there is an electromagnetic field protecting it, though he can’t see it. He signs at Crosshair, still on the tower:

There is a magnetic field, find the lever and deactivate it.

Copy that, the youngest clone signs back.

More droids advance to their position, and they need to move if they don’t want to be caught. They hear Crosshair shooting behind them, and Hunter feels the magnetic field disappearing.

“Forward!” He yells.

They attack the droids standing in their way. Crosshair tries to take down as many as he can from where he is, but quickly realizes that he and his brothers are overwhelmed. Tech set the parameters too high. They aren’t good enough.

As if he has heard him, Tech turns to Crosshair and shows the tower canons with his hands. Crosshair nods and shoots these down one by one.

Down on the battlefield, Wrecker suddenly comes up with an idea.

“Tech, I’m gonna throw you towards the tower, and you can climb the rest.”

“This is too dangerous, you will not be able to defend yourself during this time, and risk getting shot.” Tech retorts.

“I got Crosshair and Hunter to protect me. We don’t have time to argue!” He adds when Tech raises his index and opens his mouth.

Hunter, who hears them despite the racket, places his back to Wrecker, both his training guns pointed to the droids.

Wrecker drops his gun, seizes Tech under the armpits and throws him with all his might to the tower, making him arrive about two thirds of its height. But as he hurls his brother, he feels a sudden pain in his back. He grunts, reaches for his gun and starts aggressively shooting all the droids around him. He knows this is a training, but the pain is very much real, and it burns him. Suddenly, all the droids stop moving, and he sees Tech waving from the top of the tower.

“Yeah Tech!”

He high-fives Hunter, who’s bearing a beaming smile. Immediately, he feels the pain in his back and falls to his knees. Crosshair and Tech run to him.

“You are injured. I told you that would happen.” Tech teased.

“You need a medic.” Crosshair whispers, frowning.

A kaminoan droid guides them outside the room, to the medical bay. There, another droid applies cold gel in the burnt area on Wrecker’s back.

“Wounds like these are not supposed to occur during your training sessions. It appears the strength parameters were tampered with. Do you want me to file a report?”

The four brothers glance at each other before shouting at the same time:

“No, no need!”

The droid leaves them alone in the room. They’re soaked in sweat, bruised, but happy. They made it! They didn’t even know they had it in them.

There is a knock on the door. They straighten. Lama Su and Nala Se enter the room, in that slow kaminoan fashion.

“That was an impressive display.” The prime minister says.

Nala Se stares at Tech, but her face is hard to read. Even Hunter cannot tell whether she is angry, or pleased, or simply doesn’t care.

“Once CT-9903 recovers from his light injury, you will begin the second phase of your training.” The chief scientist added, before leaving them alone once more.

They all smile and squirm with excitement. They can’t wait to go to a real battlefield, and fight off some real droids.

#summerofbadbatch2024 #week2 #injured #comfort zone #star wars #the bad batch #tbb crosshair #tbb wrecker #tbb hunter #tbb tech #tbb #fanfic #kamino #cadet au

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kaznejis · 1 year ago

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The Great Sunshine- Bucky Barnes x Reader (Part I)

Realisation had dawned upon you in that booth, your fingers stinging as you curled them together, jaw trembling as you scooped up your belongings and escaped the scene. They had done it, the team had finally done it. Half the population was back. Which could only mean that Bucky was back.

Word Count: 3.8K / Read it on AO3 / Series masterlist

A/N- This is a series- once there are multiple parts I will create a masterlist/ link it on this post. I hope you enjoy. :)

The last remnants of dust floated beyond your peripheral as you cast a finger along the shelves mounted upon the wall of the dingy motel room. It had been cheap, quick; no questions asked as the keys had been dropped into your palm, the corners of the frail woman’s eyes tight as she recognised you for the sparks at your fingertips and the static at the ends of your hair. You had simply nodded, eyes downcast as you turned to ascend the stairs layered in patchwork carpet, floorboards creaking as you searched the hallways for your soon-to-be humble abode, Room 208. The door was a dull red, marred with years of use, years of visitors like you; people looking for an escape, an undocumented place to hide.

Smoked-stained walls surrounded you as you carried out the usual ministrations- check under the bed, within the wardrobes, behind the shower curtain and finally, secure each and every potential entrance point. Routine procedures kept you safe, secure; allowed you to catch at least a portion of sleep each night that would be spent in the unfamiliar room.

You knew, deep down, that you wouldn’t be here long. The fickle remnants of time that you could grasp were running out, with each day that you made progress- a trail crept behind your every step. You’d catch glances of it in front of your apartment, at your usual table in your favourite coffee shop; frequenting places you had stepped foot in only days prior.

You were tired, so tired. Your energy depleting with each day of watching your own back, feeling your every footstep being retraced. You had been someone once, an Avenger in fact. Public appearances and intel missions had been the norm- you were appreciated for your agility and mind; tech-savviness and strategy moulded into one. Children dressed as your age appropriate counterpart for Halloween, people cheered as you defeated the baddie of the day; reaching for you and grappling at your suit as they praised the saviour that gracefully descended towards them. Their very own gods among men.

Then half the population disappeared, half of your friends disappeared.

He disappeared.

You had become desperate, everyone had; sleepless nights bled into sleepless days as the remaining ruins of the team searched every corner of intuitive technology and artificial intelligence in order to find something, anything that would get back the people you had lost. In hindsight, it had been a terrible idea, one doomed from the first inkling of a thought. It had been the beginning of the time travelling experiments, a test into the limits of the human body- the first of the tests to require a human subject, to which you had instantly volunteered yourself- pleading and begging with Tony to let you help, let you make yourself useful where you could. Desperation, after all.

Steves sombre eyes had watched as you were hooked to the machine, wires protruding from your arms and legs and chest, monitors readily waiting to take readings and stabilise in the event of an emergency, You had watched him back, a hopeful smile sent his way- you knew now what he had been thinking, knew exactly who he was thinking of. The man that would never have allowed you to volunteer yourself in the first place, the one that fought to keep you safe- even in that final battle in Wakanda, his hand gripped firmly within yours as he faded away, leaving you with nothing but the cold, empty chill of grief. Nevertheless, Steve had stood back; his form stoic and arms crossed.

Desperation.

Tony had given the thumbs up, granted you with an encouraging grin before disappearing behind the screen; Bruce had flicked the switches and pulled down his protective goggles. After that, you could only remember the pain. The spark of a faulty wire having come loose in the blinding light of the team’s excitement, in the blinding memory of the people you had all lost and that you could’ve possibly gotten back. But instead, the electricity had bolted into your body, through your blood and straight to your heart. As the pain coursed through your body, as your chest heaved and your arms writhed, something mutated within you. You would later learn that it had always resided in you, every time you had been back benched for a mission or held back, deemed ‘too weak’ for certain threats in comparison to the superhumans amongst the team, those powers had always been there. A beacon of wasted potential had always bleated within you; readily waiting to be activated.

If only it hadn’t activated once the world had already ended.

The failed experiment left you with a constant burn, a constant glow to your being as your powers rushed alongside your blood, beated alongside your heart, its thoughts intertwining with your own. Sparks emerged at your fingertips at the slightest physical touch, lights flickered when you felt anger- your own emotional intensity would be exposed within the glow of your eyes, every time.

You were insatiable. Unstoppable, you finally felt like you could make a change: truly save people from the dangers of society that remained. At first, you were a sign of hope- a sign that options were still out there, undiscovered equations and new possibilities. Breakthroughs were imminent, the team spent any given moment secluded to the confines of a laboratory- testing any and every possibility they could imagine. But, with new power comes new responsibility. You were a danger to yourself and the rest of the team. Your emotional instability halted your ability to truly hone your craft- the experienced sorcerers within the likes of Wanda and Doctor Strange were gone. Surrounded by scientists and assassins, you could only receive analytical advice- the best ways not to use your powers, how to keep yourself and others safe instead of what you needed to know, how to truly harness it.

A botched mission had ended it all- a simple intel task into an uprising post-blip gang ending in a field of scattered bodies; your powers had taken a mind of their own as the simple thrust of your hand had shot a line of electricity through the soldiers who had posed only a minor threat. The bodies of young men and young women ricocheting at your feet, electricity bleating from their pores and smoke rising from their skin. The bodies of people who had simply been fighting for what they had believed in, their fear manipulated and twisted into a desire to fight. Not a speck of blood stained your skin.

You had killed before, of course you had, but not like that. Not that many people at once.

You were a monster, slowly becoming unable to face the fear that your powers had begun to garner. The fans that had once bounded towards you in the street now kept their distance, flinching at the static of your electricity even if you made no move to wield it. However, the worst was the reaction from your friends, your counterparts, your family. They were wary, far too aware of the instability in the world and far too aware of the sensitivity of your powers adjacent to that, you were a ticking time bomb in a society hanging from mere seams. You were a liability to the team- both alive and dead.

So, you left. Packed a bag and fled the compound on foot in the dead of night, with a flick of your wrist the electric mainframe was down; effectively disabling the sensors that would have triggered the moment you had left the grounds.

That was the last you had seen of the Avengers.

In your wake, the team had seemingly continued on successfully. Only mere months after your escape, you had sworn as an entourage of previous customers suddenly appeared within the dead-end diner you favoured; tables and seats crashing to the ground as people were reinstated back into the universe. Beneath the table, your fingers had crackled with electricity- shock coursing through you as you watched an outbreak of turmoil; people screaming and crying, begging for help as they returned to a place they no longer belonged, the fear they had previously felt in that moment five years ago still remaining. It was almost as if they had blinked, never left at all.

Half the population was back.

Which could only mean that Bucky was back.

Your knees had shook as you clasped onto the side of the Diner’s wall, stomach churning as you imagined him reappearing in that field in Wakanda, grains of his being coursing back into reality in the same way the people in that diner had, his hand still outstretched; clasping onto your phantom hand that he had clutched onto five years prior as the world had ended. You imagined his hair, now long and healthy; the strands flying as he searched for you, his brain muddled with questions of where you were, where the rest of the team was. But you were here, outside of a stupid, greasy diner, and he was out there, alone in an overgrown valley; surrounded by unfamiliarity.

Your relationship with Bucky was a hard one to define- it had been everything and nothing all at once. Being on the run had been tumultuous, constantly watching your backs- in a world where you couldn’t trust anyone, you had known all along that you could trust Bucky. You lived within a mirage of safety beneath his ever-watchful gaze, basking in both his strengths and his horrors as you leaned upon each other for support. When the suggestion for Bucky to go to Wakanda arose, you readily volunteered to go with him, to help him break away from the demons that resided within. There, you had grown close, too close. Exposing yourselves to each other in both body and soul- nights spent intertwined together on that creaky wicker bed, nights spent with hands in his hair and hot breaths against the skin of your throat.

“Promise we’ll never be apart,” you had whispered one night, the crackle of the fire sounding nearby your connected bodies, your cheeks warm with love and adoration as you stared up at Bucky, “No matter what.”

He had smiled, cheeks crinkling as a hand moved to smooth your hair away from your face, the move complimented with a kiss pressed to the curve of your exposed shoulder, “Of course, Sweetheart.” His eyes had held nothing but sincerity then, and you had believed it. You had trusted that the world had finally calmed, the serenity of Wakanda weakening your lays of defence.

You had loved him, really truly loved him. You still did, of course you did- but you weren’t sure how to love someone who you hadn’t seen in five years, someone whose face you could hardly recall. A large, poisonous part of you wished that you had been blipped, lost in the wind so that you hadn’t had to experience the last five years. Hadn’t had to experience the feeling of your own body turning against you, the whole world turning against you. You could have simply reappeared beside Bucky, thrown yourself into his arms and cried into his shoulder- have blubbered out your love for him and pressed your lips to his, smiling against his mouth and celebrated being alive.

But instead, you mourned what had been lost in the event of your survival.

In the days following the world’s return, you had drowned in the depths of insecurity, the loneliness that had plagued you for five years warped your brain as you lived comfortably in the idea that Bucky wouldn’t come looking for you, that he had simply forgotten about you in the midst of the blip- but whilst you had lived, he had not; that Bucky from five years ago was the same one that had returned. The very same one that had stood in front of your apartment building only weeks later.

You had stood frozen, but undetected, around a corner; a nearby streetlamp buzzed and flickered as you stared horrified at the man only mere metres away. Your body practically ached with yearning as you stared at him, his hair buzzed and crop; strong shoulders accentuated by the lines of his cotton collared jacket. He stood at the top of the main entrance, a small sheet of paper held aloft in his hand. For a few moments he scoured the selection of buttons, before reaching forward and firmly pressing one.

You watched in horror as he pressed the intercom for your apartment.

Obviously, as you were cowering around a corner and not currently within the, no longer safe, confines of your apartment- the subsequent five presses to the intercom went wholly unanswered. Scratching at his stubble, you watched as he turned and walked back down the stairs of the main entrance before spinning on his heel and staring up at the building; a hand shielding his gaze from the bright street light above. You had luckily opted to leave the window closed and curtains open before leaving; no lights on, no sign of life- nobody home. It seemed that Bucky reached the same conclusion as he stared up at what he had assumed to be your apartment, as evidenced by the gusty sigh he released, shoving the piece of paper dejectedly into the pocket of his jacket.

The moment of reprieve allowed you to seclude into the depths of your mind, how had he found you? It seemed that the covert operations of his Winter Soldier days had never quite rescinded as he had evidently used some form of illegal means to know your location. Bribery, you had assumed, your landlord had been a blood-thirsty money hound; making it his mission to bleed you dry of every spare penny you owned. You held no doubt that he had practically spewed every detail about your life to Bucky the minute the bills had left his pocket.

Worry had crept through your veins then, up your arms and wringing at your neck- Bucky could not see you like this. You weren’t the same person you had been five years ago; the gleam within your eyes and the volts at your fingertips were evidence of that. There would be too much explaining to do, too much emotional turmoil to unpack, too much anger. You had to run, run from the responsibility and the very ties that had resulted in the circumstances of your life now.

You had to get Bucky away from the apartment you were about to vacate, lease be damned.

Manipulating the worry that had settled in your throat, casting tears within your eyes; you reached a hand forward, curling your fingers and reaching your conscience towards a street lamp further down the street; you knew that Bucky had taken on the responsibility of a saviour now, a true Avenger ready to jump to the rescue at any given moment. Your chest stuttered and heaved as electricity coursed through you, a fizzing sensation filled the back of your throat as the lamp’s heat shot upward, the bolts flying from the lightbulb as it exploded- the fuze blowing as sparks rained down onto the street. Bucky reacted instantly, sprinting towards the commotion; allowing you the precious time to run towards the building and jump the side fence, immediately scaling the fire exit and heaving open your apartment’s back window. Despite the weight in your chest, both from the exertion of using your powers and running, you allowed no time to breathe as you shoved whatever you could into a bag.

Despite your fervour, you managed a split second to glance out of the window; the same one that Bucky had looked up towards. Upon glancing down the street, you froze, horror climbing its way back up into your throat; eyes widening and hands trembling as you realised what you had done.

Not only had you blown the bulb within the street light, but also its entire electrical mainframe- the large metal structure of the light laying splayed across the street. But that wasn’t what the horror, what you had done was not a victimless crime. A young woman lay trapped beneath the fallen structure, crying and screaming out; her face a sheen of white as her breaths became meagre. A crowd were desperately attempting to lift the metal, Bucky included; his face juxtaposed the woman’s in a way, red and scrunched with exertion as he carried the weight of the entire pillar. You could only hold your breath as the metal was successfully lifted, the crowd parting as Bucky moved in to check the woman’s pulse. Her head went limp then, falling to the side under the exertion of her own pain; that sheen of white melting into a deep grey.

Gusts of wind trickled throughout the street, moving the hairs of the crowd; rustling the trees beyond which the branches curled and stretched outwards, mimicking the dance splayed upon the volts between each of your fingers. The dance intensified as Bucky looked towards the crowd and shook his head, remorse within the droop of his eyelids as he announced her death- his fingers still attached to the curve of her neck as his mouth crumpled and his opposed hand thumbed at the space between his eyebrows; his own hidden signs of despair.

That thought was all you needed to kick into action; haul your bags over your shoulder and exit the building- immediately beginning your hike in the opposite direction of the commotion. You were, well and truly, a monster. The first time it had been an accident, but this was no accident. You had pointed your mind towards the light, held a hand forward and manipulated a physical state of matter- that had been a conscious choice. But you knew, worst of all, you knew that Bucky would blame himself for this- blame himself for not reaching her in time, not being able to save her in time. You had caused that. You had allowed your emotions to get the better of you, allowed yourself to drown in the depths of your emotions. If merely seeing Bucky caused you to do that, you were a liability when at his side; just as you had been with the Avengers.

In that moment, you vowed that you would never see Bucky again, that you would travel to the ends of the Earth if it meant avoiding his trail; avoiding the way he made you feel. You would live a traceless life, until the day that everybody finally forgot who you were; left you to live in solitude, punishing yourself for the damage your powers had caused.

So, that is how you found yourself in that motel, in the room with the dull red door; with the woman at the front desk who had cowered at the sight of your powers.

Exhausted, you collapsed against the headboard of the old, rickety bed; the springs protesting as you shuffled into a comfortable position before switching on the cranky box of a television mounted upon a rotting wooden desk. You tended to allow yourself small comforts now, it had been two weeks since that fateful day; two weeks since you had last laid eyes on Bucky- though, you had felt him; felt him in the long lines at coffee shops, felt him amongst the shelves in the book store, felt him in the open plains of busy highways as you hitchhiked into the next city. He wasn’t far away, slowly but surely he was catching up.

And how right you had been.

As you fumbled with a torn string at the hem of your shirt, the news channel’s usual theme tune sounded; the bright logo casting shadows throughout the dingy room- the showing went through the usual ministrations of showing the weather, discussing the latest news; until the screen cut to two familiar faces. Instantly, you rose from the bed and stood in front of the television; nose practically pressed to the glass of the screen.

Upon the screen stood Bucky and Sam, both suited up and armed to the teeth; Bucky with his knives and metal arm on show, Sam with his shield- that shield. The sight of it only evoked a bitter feeling upon your tongue, your most prevalent memory of Steve was that of him showing no objection to you being used as a human-guinea pig in the team’s experiments. Nevertheless, both stood before the camera, expressions serious as the reporter introduced the two of them; a banner appeared on the screen detailing both their legal and ‘superhero’ names.

“So, gentleman, do you have any comments to give regarding the ongoing investigation?”

Bucky stepped forward, his jaw tight as he nodded, the reporter had to follow his actions with the microphone as he did; Bucky seemingly acting allergic to the technology as he moved away at every attempt of it being within a suitable distance of his mouth, “Upon the jurisdiction of Captain America himself, we vow today- we will take down whoever did this,” Sam nodded, his arm crossed and America emblem prominent as he surveyed Bucky as he spoke, “We believe that this attack is the beginning of a series of similar targeted attacks.”

You furrowed your eyebrows, attacks? You weren’t personally aware of any mishaps; maybe you had truly made it off the grid.

Sam stepped forward then, his gaze hard as he took hold of the microphone himself, “We believed the attack against Ailene Richards was a targeted one; she was a young woman with a bright future. Our evidence shows that the street light falling was no accident- the remains of the bulb were not only shattered, but they had exploded; the wires within the metal pole were torn to pieces.”

“Captain, are you suggesting that the causes of this attack were … supernatural, one of a sorcerer perhaps?”

“I am.”

“These are dangerous claims, how can you be so sure?”

“Because I was there.” Bucky stepped forward once again, his features took a new shade now- vengeance, “I saw that street light fall- those things are built with durability in mind; someone with extreme power, made sure that it landed on top of Miss Richards,” He paused then, his throat bobbing as he made direct eye contact with the camera, those stone-cold eyes piercing into your soul, “I watched as she died, so help me god, I will not rest until her life is avenged. Until I have found the person that did this.”

Whilst you had never felt so cold- the ice within your body made no move to thaw as the television exploded before you; your skin burning and hair tinged with heat as you simply sat, undisturbed; drowning within the depths of your mind.

It seemed that whilst you knew Bucky had been searching for the person you had once been, it hadn’t quite dawned upon you that he would also be searching for the person you had become.

#bucky barnes x reader #bucky barnes x you #bucky barnes x y/n #bucky barnes #james bucky barnes #falcon and the winter soldier #marvel mcu #marvel #mcu fanfiction #bucky fanfic #bucky x reader

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covahno · 4 months ago

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You - Part 6 (Cliff hanger?)

[NSFW TEXT & IMAGES] - WARNING

Description: A girl (you) with an overpowered cursed technique but plagued by her *cough* slut tendencies and impulsiveness attempts to become a powerful sorcerer, but will her behavior hinder that?

Status: Complete

Other: Yuji Itadori x fem/reader, story contains smut, fight scenes, dark humor, smau.

The atmosphere at the dojo is lively and festive as preparations for the annual Jujutsu High Festival begin. The festival is a time of celebration, camaraderie, and friendly competition, and it provides a welcome break from the intense training and missions. Gojo announces that this year's festival will include a series of challenges designed to test both individual and team skills.

"You've all worked incredibly hard," Gojo says, his tone light but encouraging. "This festival is a chance to showcase your abilities and have some fun. Remember, it's not just about winning; it's about enjoying the experience and supporting each other."

The festival kicks off with a parade, the students and faculty of Jujutsu High marching through the streets in colorful costumes. The air is filled with laughter and excitement, and you feel a sense of pride and belonging as you march alongside your teammates.

The first event is a series of sparring matches, and the excitement is palpable as students face off in friendly competition. You find yourself paired with Yuta for your first match, and the two of you exchange a nod of mutual respect before the fight begins.

The match is intense, each of you pushing the other to your limits. Yuta's powerful curse technique is formidable, but you counter with your adaptive technique, dodging and countering his attacks with precision. The crowd cheers as you exchange blows, the thrill of the fight filling you with exhilaration.

The sparring match ends in a draw, both of you standing tall and smiling despite the exhaustion. The crowd applauds, and you feel a deep sense of satisfaction. Yuta extends a hand, and you shake it firmly, a bond of mutual respect solidified through the competition.

"That was incredible, Y/N," Yuta says, his voice filled with admiration. "You're an amazing fighter."

"Thanks, Yuta. You too," you reply, feeling a surge of gratitude for his kind words.

As the day progresses, you participate in various events, each one designed to test different aspects of your skills and teamwork. There's an obstacle course that requires agility and quick thinking, a target practice challenge that tests your precision, and a puzzle-solving event that requires strategy and collaboration.

Throughout the festival, you and your teammates support each other, cheering each other on and offering encouragement. The bond you've formed through countless hours of training and missions is evident in every interaction, and you feel a deep sense of pride in being part of such an incredible team.

One of the highlights of the festival is the team relay race, a challenging course that requires speed, coordination, and trust. You and your teammates line up at the starting line, the excitement and anticipation palpable.

The relay race begins, and you sprint forward, your heart pounding with adrenaline. The course is filled with obstacles that test your agility and coordination, but you navigate them with ease, your training and instincts guiding you.

As you reach the first checkpoint, you pass the baton to Yuji, who takes off with incredible speed and determination. The crowd cheers as he leaps over hurdles and dodges obstacles, his movements fluid and powerful. He passes the baton to Megumi, who uses his shikigami to navigate the more complex parts of the course with precision and skill.

Nobara takes the baton next, her fierce determination evident in every stride. She tackles the obstacles with relentless energy, her eyes fixed on the finish line. Finally, she passes the baton to Yuta, who sprints forward with unwavering focus, his curse technique providing an extra boost of speed and power.

You cheer loudly as Yuta crosses the finish line, securing a victory for your team. The sense of accomplishment and camaraderie is overwhelming, and you celebrate with your teammates, the bond you share stronger than ever.

As the sun sets and the festival winds down, Gojo gathers everyone for a closing ceremony. "Today was about more than just competition," he says, his tone filled with pride. "It was about celebrating our journey, our growth, and the bonds we've formed. You've all done incredibly well, and I couldn't be prouder."

The festival ends with a spectacular fireworks display, the night sky lit up with vibrant colors. You and your teammates watch in awe, the beauty of the moment a perfect reflection of the joy and camaraderie you've experienced throughout the day.

As the fireworks fade and the crowd begins to disperse, you find yourself walking through the festival grounds with Yuji. The night is quiet now, the festive energy replaced with a sense of calm and contentment.

"Today was amazing," Yuji says, his voice filled with warmth. "I'm so grateful to be part of this team, and to have someone like you."

You smile, feeling a deep sense of gratitude. "I feel the same way, Yuji. We've been through so much together."

Yuji nods, his expression thoughtful. "No matter what challenges we face, I know we'll get through them as long as we stick together."

The moment is tender and heartfelt, the bond between you and Yuji growing even stronger. As you continue to walk, you both begin flirting with each other shooting sexual dares at each other.

You can tell Yuji is excited at the thought of it but to shy to act on it.

You want him, and you want him now. "Yuji, follow me" "What? I already a-" You grab him by the collar of his shirt and pull him to a dark ally way deeper in the less busy parts of the festival. You throw him up against the wall causing Yuji's face to turn red and show his excitement. They began kissing in a sloppy and rushed manner with very little warning.

Y/n couldn't believe the intensity of the moment as she felt Yuji's hands under her skirt, exploring the wetness that had pooled between her legs. The excitement of being in a hidden spot at the festival only added to the thrill, and she moaned into his mouth as his fingers slid against her sensitive folds. The world outside the sanctuary of their makeshift hideaway faded away, replaced by the sound of their heavy breathing and the frantic beating of their hearts. His touch grew bolder, and you responded by gripping his shirt, pulling him closer, urging him to keep going. The warmth of his breath on your neck sent shivers down your spine, and she felt a rush of desire that was impossible to ignore.

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps approached, and for a brief second, panic flashed through both their eyes. But instead of stopping, you leaned in and whispered fiercely into Yuji's ear, "Don't stop." your voice was filled with a need that was as surprising to you as it was to him. He hesitated, but you reached down and gave his erection a firm squeeze, silently conveying her determination. The footsteps grew louder, and just as they were about to pass, you decided to act. You threw of your top and with a swift motion, you unzipped his pants, freeing his eager cock from its pants slapping your face. He looked down at you, your eyes filled with blind lust, and before he could protest, you pushed him off him slightly and dropped to your knees. The urgency of the situation only added to the thrill, and you took him in your mouth, eager to taste him.

Yuji's eyes widened as he felt the warmth and wetness of her mouth enveloping him, and he had to bite his lip to stifle a moan. The danger of getting caught only heightened the sensations, and he felt his cock throb in response. Y/n began tentatively, your inexperience evident in the gentle way you licked and kissed the tip. But you were eager to learn, to give him what he wanted, and you took him deeper, your tongue swirling around the shaft as you grew more confident. His hands found their way to her hair, and he couldn't help but grip it slightly, guiding your movements. The footsteps grew fainter, but the threat remained, adding an exhilarating edge to their encounter.

Y/n felt a thrill run through her body as you stood up and threw her skirt up, revealing your ass and the damp patch on your panties to Yuji. His eyes darkened with a dominant hunger you hadn't seen before, and you found herself craving his touch even more. He didn't waste a moment, pulling your panties to your thighs and pushing you against the wall

he starts entering you with ease, thanks to your arousal. The initial sensation of his cock sliding into you was heavenly, the tightness of your pussy making him feel even larger and more potent. you bit your lip to keep from crying out as he began to move, his strokes slow and deliberate at first, allowing her to adjust to the fullness. But as the urgency grew, so did the force of his thrusts. He pulled your hair, his grip tightening as he picked up the pace, and you felt a rush of pleasure mixed with a hint of pain. He spat in your mouth, and you swallowed laughing like a whore, the salty taste only adding to your excitement.

Before you knew it you took his cock in your hand and guided it to your ass, feeling the head of his shaft nudge against my tight hole. The thought of what they were about to do made her pulse race, and she couldn't help but moan out loud when he finally pushed inside.

He was gentle at first, his eyes never leaving hers as he worked his way in inch by inch. But once he was fully seated, he couldn't hold back. His grip on her hair tightened, and he began to pound into her with a ferocity that had her seeing stars. She felt her orgasm building, the pressure in her core growing more intense with every thrust causing you to moan loudly. And when he whispered "shush" in her ear, the respectful "yes sir" that slipped from her lips only served to excite him further.

Their movements grew more frenzied, their kisses more desperate as they approached climax. The sound of their skin slapping together was the only music to their 'dance', and the scent of their passion filled the small space. Y/n felt her walls tighten around him, her body begging for release. And when it came, it was explosive. They both cried out in unison, their bodies shaking with the force of their shared orgasm. He filled her ass with his warm cum, and she felt it spilling out around his cock, mingling with their sweat and juices.

As the aftershocks subsided, they stayed there, panting and trembling, kissing softly. They had crossed a line, but in that moment, all that mattered was the connection they had just shared, the raw intimacy that had bound them together in the shadows of the festival. They knew they couldn't stay like this forever, but for now, they reveled in the illicit pleasure of their secret.

But you pull your skirt up and run away from him in embarrassment.

That night, as you lay in bed, your mind is filled with thoughts of the future. But then you hear your door slam open. It's Yuji, but his demeanor is different? He eyes are seem cocky and he combs his hair with his hand while his other is in his pocket. "I know we had sex but I didn't think he'd just come in without knocking and acting like he owned the place." I thought. As he got closer and the darkness left his face I noticed black markings on his face and a oddly dark aura hovering over his presence.

"What the fuck" I said out loud. "Ahhhh, fine! I'll admit it, I don't blame yuji for choosing you but he could have at least let me know you looked like THIS" he says with a cocky smirk on his face. "Yuji what are you talking ab-" I ask. "Oh be quiet little lady, we have a lot to discuss" he uttered in a sinister tone.

Hope you guys enjoyed the story and the art work. Let me know if you if guys would like me to continue the story or do something different. I'm open to mostly anything so let me know!

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sideblog-usernametaken · 1 month ago

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Spoilers for Pokemon Horizons Episode 67 below:

So the battle between Liko and Roy was fantastic, it showed off how both of them have progressed as trainers and how much they've bonded with their pokemon. The fight choreography was great, Floragato learning Feignt by accident and Fuecoco evolving were both hype, and the pacing was tight with excellent animation. Like, this is how you script and direct animated pokemon battles.

However, I'm still a bit bitter about the outcome of the match.

Narratively, it fits and shows their character growth. This is Liko's first real loss that she takes without it having a massive emotional impact on her, and now that Roy has started fighting strategically instead of move spamming it makes sense that he's gotten much better at battling. The latter is especially important given his goal is to battle the Shiny Rayquaza.

It also makes sense from a more meta narrative too: Roy was the only one with an evolved starter so it makes sense Fuecoco evolves now and it makes sense that he goes on to win the battle after. Not evolving Fuecoco would've either resulted in Roy stagnating, or Fuecoco just becoming too strong to be believable anymore. They could've turned it into a subplot where Roy is concerned Fuecoco hasn't evolved when Quaxly and Sprigatito both did. But no other pokemon has gotten that level of concern regarding evolution and Roy isn't the kind of character to get hung up on a detail like that so it definitely would've felt forced. This was the right time for him to evolve and I kind of expected it going into the episode.

So why do I feel bitter about the battle's outcome if everything about it makes sense and it met my expectations for the episode?

Because Liko deserves a break.

Seeiously, she has been fighting uphill for this entire arc with nearly every battle putting her at a heavy disadvantage in either typing or level. Her basics test? Yeah throw her at the Bug type gym leader, her only two pokemon are Grass and Psychic which are both weak to Bug. Her double battle against Rika? Yeah have her go up against the one Poison type on Rika's team (This one is slightly less egregious than everything else because the Clodsire does lose its stab poision damage and Katy is helping for the first half, but still). Her implementation test? Yeah, send her to the Ice type gym leader who's pokemon are at minimum 5-10 levels higher than hers, don't worry about the fact that both of his pokemon are super effective against her main too (Ice and Flying both beat Grass). She has to confront the Explores on her own? Have her run into Amethio and his Fire/Ghost Ceruledge that can counter both of her pokemon. She has a climactic battle with one of her friends in the finale? Yeah pit her against the one with the Fire main and Flying second (Which has paralysis moves to cut down Floragato's agility). Oh, and for funsies, give Liko the other disadvantage of her second pokemon only really start battling this arc, so she doesn't have the time to get a good sense of how she battles until it's too late.

Seriously, the only battle in this arc that I can think of where Liko had at least a type advantage was against the Garganacle. Even then she was battling against someone trying to take her out instead of someone battling for fun.

Meanwhile, Roy more often than not gets type advantages, and Dot's arc focuses almost entirely on her character outside of battle so it doesn't really matter if she wins or loses because either one works. It's like the writers are intentionally putting Liko at a major disadvantage because she's genuinely become a really good trainer, but the plot demands she keeps losing for character development.

Seriously, the level of strategy and competency she showed in her fight against Grusha should've gotten her a passing grade. It would've gotten her a passing grade from any other gym leader, heck she probably could've beaten most of the other gym leaders. But instead the narrative keeps beating her down so she has a valid reason to have low self esteem instead of letting her have some wins to give her a better sense of self confidence. Like, Roy failed his first try at the implementation test because he needed something to deeply rattle him to bring about a change in his fighting style. That's an example of a loss being effective for character growth. But with Liko? It's like she's not allowed to see the progress she's made until the second to last episode of the arc, and in the finale she gets shown up by Fuecoco evolving.

The only real saving grace of the battle's outcome is Geeta and Rika reaction. They recognize that Liko has the skill to take on the Champion track and seem completely unbothered by the fact she lost to Roy. That means they probably realized all of what I said above, and came to the conclusion that if Liko's this good working against these kinds of disadvantages then she'd be incredibly strong once she levels up some more or catches a full team. If that's true, it would explain why they didn't have the same talk with Roy since he's largely had an advantage in most of his battles.

Ideally, I'd end this fight in a tie. Have them knock each other out at the same time to establish that they're on even footing, and they both get the benefit of technically not losing. This ending would also build tension for their inevitable rematch.

I really hope the next arc gives Liko some more wins because she really needs it. At this point in her character arc having her continue to lose and deal self esteem issues would just mean she's stagnating. They need to have something more substantial to show her growth, especially since one of her main character flaws before this arc was her letting other people win when she could've beaten them. You can't just tell us she's talented, then show us she's talented, and then keep making her lose unfair fights so you can drag out her self esteem issues longer. She doesn't have to win every fight but she should at least be able to show off in a fair fight every once in a while.

#pokemon horizon spoilers #pokemon horizons #pokemon horizons episode 67

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isa-beenme · 1 year ago

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training w/ cassian? and cassian accidentally hurts the reader?

LOOKS WHO IS BACK (im truth I never went away, the thing is, I'm trying to write smut for Azriel AND I SIMPLY CAN'T WRITE SMUT IT DOESN'T WORK MY MIND DOESN'T WORK ANYTHING WORKS, so I'll just make this one for cassie baby and figure azriel story later)

My first one for this bat boy, and now the trio is officially complete in my blog, thank you all

I have two more to publish already, THE biggest I wrote till now

ENJOY

Trigger Warnings: mentions of misogyny, trauma and violence

Scars

The training area of the House of the Wind was spacious, equipped with various training dummies, weapons, and mats for sparring. Cassian had offered some weeks ago to train with you to help you build skills and confidence in self-defense. Since the first time he noticed how much of a scared animal you looked every time a male approached you too fast. He was actually the one who alerted his brothers of your uneasiness and told them to be more gentle around you.

You felt deeply thankful for his help, sometimes even sharing with him your past experiences with your almost-husband back in the Autumn Court. He looked mad every time and even offered to kill the male for you, and every time you said that destiny was going to take care of that male. Of course, destiny had a name and was the General of the Night Court but still. The news of your past lover's death hitted you with a strange sensation of relief and safety. Along with a bit of joy qhen you noticed the biggest smile you ever saw on Cassian's face the next day.

Now you stood facing each other, each wearing practice swords and wearing light training armor after finally finishing the endless warm up.

- Alright, let's finally start with some basic swordplay today. Remember, the key is not just strength, but also agility and strategy. Remember every tip, every position and the right way to hold the weapon. A sword is never dangerous enough if not used in the correct way - Cassian said with a grin as you nodded, a determined expression on your face.

You quickly began circling each other, and Cassian threw a few light swings on your way, testing your reflexes. You blocked them with ease, gaining more confidence with each successful parry.

- You're doing great, keep doing this way - Cassian encouraged - Now, try to counter-attack after you block my strikes.

As you continued the practice, you focused intently, feeling a growing sense of accomplishment with each successful move and praise from your trainer. Your past experiences had left you feeling vulnerable all the time, a cloud of fear passing over your head all day, thundering when a male would approach. But with Cassian's guidance, you were slowly reclaiming your sense of power and autonomy.

Cassian was honestly impressed by your progress. You are a quick learner and showed natural talent with each passing day. He could see the determination in your eyes, and it reminded him of himself when he was a child first learning to fight in those old camps. After a few more minutes of practice, Cassian suggested moving on to fast sparring instead of sword fighting, just to call it an end for the day's training.

- This will help you apply what you've learned in a more dynamic setting - He explained quickly.

You set aside the practice swords and began a controlled sparring session, trying to tag each other without using full force. Cassian observed your movements, offering occasional pointers or praises for your efforts. As you sparred, you seemed to become more immersed in the training, the adrenaline pumping through your veins. For a moment, the memories of the past started to fade away, replaced by the thrill of the present moment.

Then, during a moment of distraction, you left your right side open, and Cassian took advantage of the opportunity. He aimed a gentle, playful punch at your head, but it landed a bit harder than he intended, jostling you slightly.

Your hand flew to your head instinctively, and though the punch didn't cause any real pain, it was enough to trigger something buried deep inside you. The memories of past humiliations and the feeling of being powerless came flooding back, overwhelming you.

Suddenly, you dropped the attack position and clutched your head settling down on the ground as your breath began to quicken when the panic set in. Cassian immediately stopped, concern etched on his face. Your name dropped out his mouth but you couldn't listen, even if your body stayed there, your mind was very far away.

A flood of emotions engulfed you, and your mind became a battleground of memories you had long tried to suppress. The punch had inadvertently brought back vivid recollections of the time you spent in the Autumn Court, where you were born and raised. It was a place filled with cruelty, disrespect, and humiliation towards a good part of their females. In that moment of vulnerability, the echoes of past insults and belittling comments resurfaced. You remembered being disrespected and devalued, your worth reduced to nothing more than an object of amusement for others. The memories of invasive male attention, the objectification, and the constant feeling of powerlessness were overwhelming.

You felt trapped in a sea of emotions, unable to escape the suffocating weight of your past. You were paralyzed by the fear that you could still be the helpless, broken person you once was. In those moments, you felt the walls around your heart closing in, as if you were back in that dark place you fought so hard to escape. The emotions were raw, and you struggled to differentiate between the past and the present.

Amidst the chaos within, Cassian's voice reached your ears, gentle and reassuring. He was kneeling beside you, his concerned eyes offering you a way out of that nightmare.

- Hey, hey, it's okay - He said, the same way he's been repeating all the time, his voice soothing - I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you. Take deep breaths, you're safe here. I'm sorry - His words were like a guiding light, slowly pulling you back from the abyss.

You took shuddering breaths, trying to focus on the reality of the training area, on Cassian's presence, and on the fact that you were still safe in the House of the Wind. His words were soothing, but it took a few moments for you to regain control of your emotions. You looked up at him, tears forming in your eyes.

- I'm so sorry - You said while trying to dry the tears you didn't even feel them going down your face. Ashamed with the way you reacted you bent down your head, looking at the training floor.

- You have nothing to apologize for - Cassian said, his voice tender - I never should have thrown that punch, even playfully. I should have been more careful. I'm really sorry if i hurted you.

Even if you knew intellectually that it wasn't his fault, you couldn't help but feel guilty for your own reaction. You were frustrated with yourself for being so affected by the past, for letting it creep into the present and ruin such a good moment you were living. As you calmed down, wiping away the tears, you managed a faint reassuring smile.

- No, it's not your fault, it didn't hurt at all. It just brought back some bad memories from the past - You took a few more deep breaths, trying to steady yourself.

- I should have been more sensitive, then. I'm really sorry for triggering those memories - Cassian's expression softened with understanding.

As he sees you're recovering from the panic attack, he feels a wave of relief wash over him. He hates that he caused you pain, even if it was unintentional. He sits beside you, his concern etched on his face.

- I'm so sorry, I would never hurt you deliberately - he says earnestly when you finally look at him, your eyes still slightly teary but filled with understanding.

- I know you didn't mean to hurt me - You replied, managing a small smile - And thank you for calming me down and being there for me. It means a lot.

- You don't need to thank me. I care about you deeply, and I hate to see you in pain. You're such a strong and remarkable person, and I can't help but admire you for who you are - He takes your hand gently on his own, feeling its coldness he quickly wraps his other hand to heat it.

- Why would you say such things? - Your cheeks blush a soft pink as you look away, trying to process his words - I'm just a regular person, Cassian. Nyx's babysitter after all. Nothing special.

- No, you are so much more than that - Cassian shakes his head, determination in his eyes - You have a heart of gold, and your courage and resilience are truly inspiring. I see the way you handle Nyx, and it's clear how much he adores you - His eyes were so full of love that you couldn't think of a way to react - And, on top of all that, you are stunningly beautiful - You were taken aback by his compliments, not used to receiving such genuine praise.

- I-I don't know what to say - You stammer, feeling both flattered and embarrassed - But thank you for being here and helping me through it. You're really kind, Cassian.

- Of course, I'll always be here for you - He placed a comforting hand on your shoulder, still holding you with his other one - And I meant what I said earlier. You're strong, brave, and incredibly talented. Don't let those bad memories hold you back. You deserve to live your life to the fullest - Though you appreciated his words, you still struggled with the lingering vulnerability and self-doubt.

- I'll try my best. And I do want to keep training if you were wondering - You joke and start to get up helping him too as you both face each other again.

- I'm glad to hear that. We'll take it at your pace, and I promise to be more mindful from now on - Cassian smiled warmly, but his smile quickly dropped as he stopped to think, concern making itself noticeable on his expression.

- What happened? Is something wrong? - You asked, genuine care carrying your voice.

- Nothing, I just… - He takes a step closer to you, his height towering over your figure. He made a move to higher up his hand, waiting for your reaction. Noticing his move you inched your face closer, giving permission for him to touch you and speak his mind - Look, I don't want to put pressure on you, and I certainly didn't plan to say this now, but I can't keep it inside anymore. I love you, not just because of what you've been through, but for who you are. I wanted to tell you earlier, but I was afraid of triggering painful memories on you if I went too step forward - You pause for a moment, taking in his confession. Then, a genuine smile graces your lips.

- You really mean that? - You ask excitedly, joy filling every part of your heart now.

- Every word - Cassian replies, his voice steady and certain. Your smile widens, and you feel more at ease than you have in weeks.

- Well then, I have to say that I care about you too, Cassian. Your strength, your humor and your kindness, they all make you an incredible person - He can hardly believe his ears, and a radiant smile spreads across his face.

- So, you forgive me for my blunder earlier? - Cassian asked with a funny expression on his face, finally holding you with both hands, securing your body against his. A reminder that, if you fell, he would always be there to catch you.

- I do, but only if you agree to go on a date with me - You chuckle, giving his hand a playful squeeze. Cassian grins, his heart soaring with happiness.

- Anytime you want, sweetheart. It's a deal. I promise to be on my best behavior - As you felt a tingly sensation on your neck you know he really meant it, a promise marking your skin for as long as he decides to stay with you.

You both share a laugh, and as you decide to leave the training area together, Cassian can't help but feel grateful for Nyx's presence in their lives, for it brought him closer to someone he now knew he couldn't bear to lose. And in that moment, both of you realized that even in the darkest of times, love and understanding can find their way to heal the deepest wounds and create something beautiful from the ashes of the past.

As you walk together to your rooms, ready to take a shower and continue the day, you sort of feel a newfound sense of hope. While the memories from your past may not disappear overnight, you knew she could face them with Cassian by your side. Together, you would rewrite your story, creating a future that was stronger and brighter than your painful past.

You realized that you weren't alone anymore, that Cassian genuinely cared for your well-being. He had become more than just a training partner or the cute uncle from the kid you babysit; he was a friend and a support system you didn't know you needed. And maybe, in a closer future, even more than you ever thought you could have.

#cassian acotar #cassian x you #cassian x reader #cassian acosf #acotar #cassian

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who-can-appease-me · 1 year ago

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Persevere

Spiderman 2099

(short action story)

Summary: Spiderman gets into a street fight with a villain

(spoiler alert: he wins)

Warnings: Violence

In the bustling metropolis of Nueva York in the year 2099, Spider-Man 2099 swung through the cityscape, a beacon of hope for its citizens. The futuristic skyscrapers gleamed with neon lights as he gracefully maneuvered between them. People below marveled at their iconic hero, inspired by his unwavering dedication to protect the city.

Spider-Man 2099 quickly leaped into action, landing gracefully in front of Mattermorph. The villain sneered, reveling in his newfound powers as he transformed nearby debris into dangerous projectiles. Spider-Man's enhanced senses detected the surge of energy emanating from the core-pin and analyzed the possibilities and limitations of Mattermorph's abilities.

Amidst the urban chaos, a disturbance rippled through the air, grabbing Spider-Man's attention. From seemingly thin air, a new villain emerged, wielding the power to manipulate matter. Known as Mattermorph, this unpredictable creature could reshape objects and elements with the energy harnessed from a core-pin on its chest.

Spider-Man leaped into action, landing before Mattermorph. The villain sneered, relishing in its newfound powers. It transformed nearby debris into dangerous projectiles, testing the limits of Spider-Man's abilities. With his heightened senses, Spider-Man analyzed Mattermorph's power source and anticipated its moves.

The battle ignited as Spider-Man evaded the onslaught, his advanced suit augmenting his agility and reflexes. His web-shooters whirred as he unleashed a flurry of webs, aiming to immobilize the formidable villain. But Mattermorph proved relentless, countering with its matter-manipulating prowess.

With each blow, Mattermorph retaliated, molding the environment to its advantage. Streets cracked open, lampposts contorted, and vehicles morphed into deadly weapons. Spider-Man utilized his web-slinging expertise, navigating through the chaos, and countering Mattermorph's attacks with precise strikes and cleverly constructed web traps. Yet, the battle intensified, pushing both combatants to their limits.

Buildings trembled as Mattermorph unleashed its full range of matter-manipulating abilities. The fabric of reality twisted and distorted with the villain's boundless power. Spider-Man knew he had to devise a new strategy to overcome this formidable foe.

In a desperate move, Mattermorph hurled a massive boulder towards Spider-Man. Swiftly swinging into action, the hero redirected the projectile using his webs. However, Mattermorph had a surprise waiting. It swiftly crafted a puppet out of brick and debris, launching it at supersonic speed towards the back of Spider-Man's head, shattering upon impact.

The double attack disoriented Spider-Man, leaving his senses entangled in a knot. Struggling to regain focus, he fought against the throbbing pain. His movements became sluggish, and his spider-sense faltered. Seizing the opportunity, Mattermorph closed in for a final strike, sensing imminent victory.

Yet, Spider-Man's indomitable spirit refused to surrender. Drawing upon his reserves of strength, he relied on instinct and muscle memory, honed through years of training and experience. Adapting his fighting style to compensate for his impaired senses and the unpredictable environment, he flowed with the battle, countering Mattermorph's every move.

Summoning a final surge of energy, Spider-Man disarmed Mattermorph, removing the core-pin from its chest. A cry of frustration and pain echoed from the defeated villain. But Spider-Man pressed on. With precision and determination, he delivered a decisive blow to the exposed core, severing the connection to Mattermorph's power source. The villain crumbled to the ground, defeated and powerless.

As the battle subsided, Spider-Man's head throbbed with pain, a testament to the toll of the fight. His suit, battered and torn, showcased the intensity of the encounter. Without wasting a moment, the hero swiftly secured Mattermorph in a cocoon of webbing, ensuring the villain's capture.

With the city now safe, Spider-Man swung away from the scene, a mix of exhaustion and satisfaction

Word count: 541

#spiderman #spiderman 2099 #miguel o'hara #short story #action #nueva york #miguel o'hara x reader #spider man: across the spider verse

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sundeathh · 1 year ago

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From Shadows to Strength

One-shot | Request | Masterlist

Pairing: Aizawa × GN!Reader | Words: 3,2K

Fandom: BNHA | MHA | CW: Violence, fight description, trauma description, hurt/comfort scenario.

A/N: Extension of my latest request, as promised. Sorry if my imagination went way too far. 😅

00:37 A.M.

The full moon hung high in the star-studded sky, casting a soft, ethereal glow over the city. You moved silently through the dimly lit streets, blending seamlessly into the shadows. Your senses were finely tuned to the nocturnal symphony that unfolded around you, a watchful guardian in the night.

The cool breeze caressed your skin, carrying a faint scent of rain that promised respite from the sweltering summer heat. It tousled your hair gently as if nature whispered secrets in your ear. The distant hum of traffic provided a constant backdrop, reminding you of the pulse that beat within the city's veins.

As you patrolled the quiet residential neighborhoods, your sharp eyes scanned the surroundings with practiced precision. Flickering streetlights cast intermittent pools of light, a valiant effort against the encroaching darkness. The gentle rustle of leaves accompanied the symphony of the night, while the distant chirping of crickets serenaded the world – a reminder of the hidden harmony within the urban chaos.

Tall buildings stood as sentinels, their windows reflecting the city's vibrant energy. Time seemed to elongate, every passing minute pregnant with anticipation. The tranquility of the night was a double-edged sword, offering solace and serving as a canvas for untold dangers. Shadows danced and whispered here and there, their secrets just out of reach.

Yet, beneath the serenity, an unsettling feeling tingled at your senses. The night held its breath, a prelude to imminent upheaval. Instincts flared, a primordial warning coursing through your veins. A shiver ran down your spine, an eerie touch from the invisible menace that crept ever closer.

Little did you know that your small, peaceful inner world was on the precipice of chaos and that the peaceful canvas of the night would soon be splintered by violence. Fate had chosen you for a test of strength and resilience tonight.

Your senses were heightened, absorbing the subtle movements and whispers of the night. With your shadow manipulation quirk at the ready, you moved swiftly and silently through the darkness – you harnessed the power of the shadows, seamlessly melding with the darkness, your control over them allowing you to move alongside with agility and grace.

The moonlight cast a pale glow upon the city, illuminating your surroundings and creating intricate patterns of light and shadow. The sounds of the distant traffic, the rustle of leaves in the wind, and the occasional hoot of an owl surrounded you. You felt empowered, your control over the shadows granting you a sense of confidence and prowess.

But suddenly, a group of figures emerged from a portal that opened spontaneously in the street you were in, clad in the distinctive attire of the League of Villains. The moonlight, initially your peaceful ally, now revealed the enemies lurking in the darkness. You assessed the situation quickly, adjusting your strategy to make good use of the shadows cast by the surrounding buildings since this night was inconveniently brighter than it should have been.

With swift movements, you maneuvered through the now battlefield, skillfully using the shadows at your disposal for your advantage. The villains attempted to counter your shadow manipulation by wielding handheld lights, casting beams that threatened to dispel the darkness around you.

Despite their efforts, you adapted and fought with resilience. Your combat skills shone through as you seamlessly transitioned to close-quarters combat, relying on your training and backup stick for situations like this; Though stripped of your quirk, you remained determined and resourceful.

Engaged in a fierce battle, you exchanged blows and parries with the villains, your body moving with agility and precision. You relied on your instincts and honed combat skills, dodging attacks and countering with swift strikes from your stick. The villains, caught off guard by your tenacity, found themselves challenged by your relentless resilience.

While the absence of your shadow manipulation quirk posed a significant obstacle, you refused to yield. The moonlight, although weakening your abilities, failed to extinguish the determination burning within you. Every strike, every block, and every movement carried the weight of your unwavering resolve.

And as the battle raged on, you fought valiantly, using your physical prowess and combat expertise to hold your ground. Though at a disadvantage, you refused to let the darkness fail you. Victory or defeat, you were determined to emerge from this trial, proving your strength as a hero, even in the absence of your quirk.

As the intense battle unfolded, you maintained focus and fought with all your might. However, amidst the chaos, one of the villains cunningly devised a plan to exploit your weakness. They observed your tactics, noting your reliance on shadows to fuel your powers.

So, with a calculated move, the villain unleashed a blinding burst of light, a concentrated beam that cut through the darkness like a searing blade. Caught off guard, you shielded your eyes, momentarily blinded by the sudden assault of brightness. The overwhelming luminosity disrupted your connection to the shadows, leaving you momentarily vulnerable and disoriented.

In that split second of vulnerability, the League of Villains seized the opportunity. Swiftly closing in on you, they launched a coordinated attack, striking with precision and ferocity. Surrounded, outnumbered, and with your vision impaired, it was a relentless onslaught that you struggled to fend off.

Despite your valiant efforts, you found it increasingly difficult to defend yourself without the aid of your quirk. And with the chaos that suddenly hugged around you, your backup stick was nowhere to be seen. The villains exploited this weakness, targeting your exposed moments and leaving you battered and bruised. Your body endured blow after blow. The pain served as harsh reminders of the dire situation you were caught in.

Overwhelmed and with your strength waning, you fought desperately to stay on your feet. But the combined force of the League of Villains proved too much to handle. With a final blow, you were subdued, collapsing to the ground, your body battered and bruised.

As darkness threatened to consume your consciousness, you realized you had been ambushed, and captured by the enemy. The realization of being at their mercy sent a chilling wave of fear coursing through your veins. The weight of your powerlessness bore down upon you, but deep within, the flicker of determination refused to be extinguished.

04:24 A.M.

The night had transitioned into the first early hours of the morning. Aizawa, still unaware of the danger that had befallen you, had been patrolling the city just as you were before, ensuring its safety and maintaining his vigilant watch.

As the first rays of dawn began to paint the sky with hues of pink and orange, Aizawa received an urgent distress call from his communication device. The voice on the other end relayed the shocking news of your abduction, revealing that you were taken hostage by the League of Villains.

A wave of panic surged through Aizawa, his heart pounding with both fear and anger. Time seemed to slow as the reality of the situation sank in. The weight of the situation settled heavily upon his shoulders, and he knew he had to act swiftly to save you.

Without wasting any moment, he sprinted towards where he was told you were being held captive, his mind racing with a thousand possibilities and plans.

As he ran through the city streets, Aizawa's mind raced, formulating a plan to rescue you from the clutches of the League of Villains. He knew the situation called for immediate action, but Aizawa couldn't do it alone. With his communication device in hand, he reached out to fellow heroes, urgently requesting their assistance.

His voice, laced with determination, echoed through the device as he relayed the dire situation. He called for heroes he trusted: those who would respond swiftly and stand by his side in the face of danger. Each name he mentioned was a plea for aid… a plea to bring you back safe and sound.

The crackle of static filled the air as he waited for responses, his heart pounding with anticipation. And one by one, he received confirmation from his comrades, their voices filled with unwavering support and resolve.

Aizawa's relief mingled with renewed determination. He knew he wasn't alone in this rescue mission; a team of skilled heroes would soon join him, united by their shared goal to save you. With combined strength and abilities, they would be a force to be reckoned with.

With every step, he pushed himself harder, determined to reach you and face the villains who dared to harm you. The bond between you and Aizawa only fueled his determination, solidifying his commitment to bring you back unharmed. He knew that time was of the essence, and he would stop at nothing to ensure your rescue.

As he neared the location, Aizawa could hear the distant sirens of his fellow heroes arriving, their presence a beacon of hope in the midst of chaos. They were a united front, ready to face whatever awaited them and free you from the clutches of the League of Villains.

His mind was laser-focused, analyzing the situation and formulating a plan as he neared the enemy's stronghold. As he approached, his senses heightened more and more, his quirk ready to be unleashed when the time called for it. The tension in the air was palpable, but Aizawa remained undeterred; his determination unwavering. He knew the path ahead would be fraught with danger – but he was prepared to face any obstacle between him and your freedom.

As Aizawa and the team of heroes stormed the stronghold of the League of Villains, chaos quickly erupted. The clash between heroes and villains echoed through the corridors, the sound of quirk powers colliding and the thud of fists meeting flesh filling the air.

Aizawa's eyes scanned the area, searching for any sign of your whereabouts. His heart raced, his determination unwavering as he fought off the villains with precise strikes from his capture weapon. The other heroes fought fearlessly by his side, their combined efforts creating a whirlwind of chaos.

Amidst the commotion, Aizawa caught a glimpse of you, battered and bruised; but still defiant, yet restrained. The sight only fueled his determination to reach you. With a fierce determination, he cut through the ranks of the villains, his quirk erasing their abilities and rendering them powerless.

The heroes fought their way toward you, each displaying their unique skills and powers to keep the villains at bay. As they closed in, Aizawa's focus remained solely on you. With a swift motion, he used his capture weapon to immobilize the remaining villains in your vicinity, ensuring your safety.

Breathing heavily, he approached you, his eyes filled with relief and concern. Gently, he reached out, carefully freeing your body with his knife, before cradling you in his arms. His touch was gentle yet firm, providing comfort and security. As he held you close, he whispered words of reassurance, his voice filled with warmth and care.

"We're taking you out of here," Aizawa murmured, his voice unwavering. "You're safe now. I won't let anything happen to you."

Supported by Aizawa and the other heroes, you were guided out of the stronghold, away from the clutches of the League of Villains. The chaos subsided as the heroes made their escape, their mission accomplished.

Outside, in the aftermath of the battle, Aizawa carried you to safety, his arms a steady anchor. The world around you blurred as tears welled in your eyes, a mix of relief, fear, and exhaustion overwhelming your senses. Aizawa held you tighter, his presence being a source of solace and strength.

You clung to him, pouring out your fears and anguish through sobs and tears, allowing yourself to be vulnerable in his embrace. Aizawa’s grip never faltered, offering silent support and understanding. He assured you that you were safe now, that the nightmare was over, and that he would protect you with everything he had.

Soon, you were escorted to a waiting ambulance, where medical professionals would attend to your injuries right away; Aizawa never left your side, his presence a steadfast pillar of support as you would begin the process of healing, both physically and emotionally.

As the ambulance raced through the city streets, the steady hum of the vehicle's engine provided a backdrop to your fading consciousness. Moments of awareness flickered in and out, your surroundings blurring and voices fading in, and out.

During those brief moments of clarity, Aizawa's comforting presence remained a constant. His voice, a soothing anchor in the sea of confusion, reassured you that you were on your way to safety. The medical professionals attending to your injuries offered words of encouragement and updates on your condition, their expertise instilling a sense of trust and reassurance in Aizawa’s worried state.

In those fleeting instances of wakefulness, you could catch glimpses of your surroundings – flashing lights, the hushed urgency of medical personnel, and the concerned face of your lover. The snippets of conversation you overheard hinted at the aftermath of the battle, the triumph of the heroes, and the defeat of the League of Villains.

However, your energy levels waned, and you slipped into unconsciousness again. Your mind carried you to a realm of dreams, where memories intertwined with hopes and fears. In this ethereal state, flashes of the rescue played out like fragmented scenes – a fierce battle, Aizawa's unwavering resolve, and the united front of the heroes fighting for your freedom. How much trouble did you get into, huh?

As the ambulance arrived at the hospital, the medical professionals swiftly transferred your body onto a stretcher, wheeling you through the bustling corridors. Aizawa trailed closely behind, his footsteps echoing through the corridors and cutting through the urgent whispers of the medical staff.

The scent of antiseptic filled your senses, and the sound of muffled voices and distant footsteps blended in a distant symphony throughout your dreaming state.

Aizawa never left your side as the medical team attended to your injuries. Their skilled hands worked diligently, treating your wounds with care and precision.

A mixture of relief and anxiety washed over Aizawa as he watched their every move, gaze focused solely on your well-being. Then, as you were settled into a hospital bed, the softness of the sheets embraced your weary body. Aizawa took a seat beside you. His eyes remained fixed on your face, searching for any sign of distress or discomfort.

In the hospital room, the atmosphere was filled with a mix of hope and weariness. The events of the past hours had taken a toll on both your body and spirit. And, as you settled into the bed, the exhaustion finally caught up with you. Your eyelids grew heavy, and your body surrendered to the healing embrace of sleep, knowing that you were finally safe and cared for.

As the soft rays of sunlight filtered through the curtains, gently illuminating the hospital room, you stirred from your deep slumber. Your eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the surroundings, and there, sitting by your bedside, was no one more than your partner, his gaze fixed on you with unwavering concern.

A wave of relief washed over you as you realized you were safe, the memories of the harrowing events still fresh in your mind. A mix of emotions surged through your heart right after: fear, vulnerability, and a lingering sense of weakness. The trauma you had endured had left its mark, both physically and emotionally, and the weight of it all threatened to overwhelm you.

Aizawa, ever perceptive, sensed your unease. With a gentle yet steady voice, he spoke, his words a lifeline in the midst of your turmoil.

"Hey," he began, his eyes filled with empathy. "I know it's been rough, and it's okay to feel weak, especially now. What you went through was unimaginable, and it takes incredible strength to endure what you did."

His words seeped into your core, offering solace and understanding. You opened your mouth to respond, but instead of words, you let out a low sound that resembled a sob. Tears threatened to fill your eyes again.

Anyway, Aizawa's presence was a calming force, his unwavering support a reminder that you didn't have to face the aftermath alone.

"You're not weak," he continued as if reading your mind, his voice filled with conviction. "You're a survivor. It takes courage to keep fighting… to keep pushing forward even when everything seems impossible. And you have shown that courage, even in your darkest moments."

He reached out, his hand gently grasping yours, offering a grounding, comforting touch. "I'm here for you," he said softly, “take all the time you need, sweetheart. And remember that strength comes in many forms. It's okay to be vulnerable sometimes. You know that.” He finished, determined to help you recover and rebuild, to ensure that the trauma you endured would not define who you are in the future.

His words resonated deep within you, a balm to the wounds inflicted by the trauma. At that moment, you found the strength to voice out your fears, to share the weight you had been carrying after that night.

"I... I feel so weak," you admitted, your voice quivering with vulnerability. "I'm afraid... afraid that… I won't be able to bounce back from this. That the trauma will always linger, haunting me. That I won’t be enough, nor able to protect anybody. What type of hero am I if I can’t protect myself in the first place?"

Aizawa's gaze softened, his eyes filled with compassion. He tightened his grip on your hand, offering a comforting reassurance.

"You're not alone in feeling that way," he responded, his voice gentle; yet resolute. "Many heroes have faced similar doubts and fears. But let me tell you something: a hero’s strength doesn't solely lie in their ability to protect others. It also lies in their resilience. In their ability to rise above their struggles and find a way to heal."

He paused for a second, allowing his words to sink in before continuing, his voice soft to your ears. "You've shown incredible courage and determination, even in the face of unimaginable adversity," he emphasized. "And remember, being a hero means acknowledging your own vulnerability, learning from it, and growing stronger. You're already on the path to becoming an even stronger hero."

His words resonated deep within you, a flicker of hope igniting your heart. The weight of your doubts and insecurities began to lift, replaced by a newfound resolve. Hesitantly, you nodded your head, showing that you understood what he meant.

"I'll be here every step of the way," he affirmed, his voice filled with sincerity. "Supporting you… guiding you… and helping you rediscover your own strength. You don't have to face this journey alone."

With his unwavering support and belief in you, the darkness surrounding your fears began to recede. A glimmer of confidence emerged, and you knew that with Aizawa by your side, you could confront the trauma and find the strength to move forward.

The road to recovery may be challenging, but you felt a glimmer of hope, a renewed strength, and a belief that healing was truly possible; as long as you had him to seil the darkness with you.

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moose-mousse · 9 months ago

Text

Next up! Scrum!

So... this may be a controversial post... I swear, no listen, I SWEAR that is not on purpose nor is it a goal. I hate that nonsense, but I wanted to give you a heads up. If people start talks in the replies or the reposts, be kind. Read the entire post, and their answers and consider their context before engaging in a constructive manner, or decide you have nothing to say that will improve things. And remember the hermeneutics of generosity. (Basically, assume the writer means well, and is just not good at getting their point across) https://nerdfighteria.info/v/ovrzKCQ2JTM/

I say this because entire books have been written about how to do scrum... which I personally consider somewhat insane. And it is my opinion that a lot of this is just the business management consulting scammers that again have taken perfectly good systems, concepts and words and abused them to the point of meaninglessness.

Because scrum is SIMPLE. And great BECAUSE it is simple. A bit harder than agile, but then, usually the way to the goal IS harder than defining the goal, so that checks out. So just like my post on agile, let us start with what problem is scrum trying to solve.

Basically, a company wants to be more agile. But just bursting open a door, pointing to some random developers while yelling "BE AGILE" proved a somewhat ineffective strategy (except for Steve, who immediately did a full split). To be agile you want the development team to decide how they want to do development... so what do you do when they don't know themselves? You do scrum!

Scrum (Named after the "All players grab each-others shoulders and listen to a super quick message by the coach" thing in sportsball) is a plan for how to plan development, analyze how you are doing development, and improve it. It centers around a team of developers (Usually between 4-8) and a constant time period called a sprint. This is usually 1-3 weeks. Then you do these steps: 1: Make a plan for the next sprint. Take the tasks that needs doing, break them down into clear tasks, and hand them out to people. Try to get the amount of work given to each developer as close to the amount of time they have to work on it in the sprint. Write these things down, however you want. 2: Do the sprint! Basically, do development. Each day, have a super short meeting where each developer explains what they did yesterday, and what they plan to do today. With focus on decisions they have made. Each person talks for 1-3 min. If you need to talk more, do it with the specific people you need AFTER this meeting. 3: When the sprint is over, evaluate how the sprint went. This is the most important part, and the one that should be spend the most time and effort on. Because this is the real core of SCRUM. Did everyone manage to do their tasks? Did some run out of things to do? Was certain tasks harder than expected? Why? What things we did could be improved? What things we did should be done differently, or not at all?

You write down your hypotheses, and start again at step 1 with making a plan for the next sprint, this time, with changes you want to test.

If you just realized that this is the very well known "fuck around and find out" or "The scientific method" as some nerds call it, then congratulations! You now understand Scrum at a deeper level than 90% of companies!

Now. There are 2 extra roles in the development team to make sure this method... you know, actually works 1: A scrum master. This is essentially just the poor sucker who makes sure that the team actually follows the plan, and remembers the steps that was agreed upon. They note down interesting things said during the daily meetings, the plan during the planning and the ideas and thoughts during the retrospective meeting. They are NOT a leader or manager. They do NOT dictate anything. Usually they are just a developer who have the magical skill "Being able to take notes and participate in the meeting at the same time" (I am a bit in awe of that skill).

2: A product owner. Sadly, developers have to actually make stuff, not just have fun. And the product owner is there to make sure that everything still centers around the correct goal. "To make great software for whoever wanted to software". If the team is developing software for a costumer outside the firm, then this is a representative of that firm. Ideally the specific person who ordered it. If they are making software based on orders by a manager or a marketing leader, then the product owner is that person. Only the person who wants the software knows what the software should be like. And humans are terrible at communicating so you do not want a game of telephone going on or the futile game of "Just have the costumer write down what they want the software to do, and then we make it". Because the product owner is often busy and so it is ok for them to only show up at the planning and retrospective meetings and it is ok for them to video call in, but their participation is MANDATORY. They MUST be an active part of the meetings or none of this will work.

We want the team to make changes to how they develop, and what they develop on the fly (The developers decide how, they product owners what). And if you do that without a constant line to the product owner, the project will go off the rail very quickly and fail with almost 100% certainty. It is also a great help because not only will the developers be able to get questions answered quickly, the product owner will also get a good insight into how the thing they want are actually being made and make better decisions. Wrong assumptions will be caught early, and misunderstandings minimized. Maybe a thing they want is really hard to do. If they want it enough, then maybe the hard work is worth it. Maybe not. You find out by TALKING.

That is it. That is Scrum. Now, you may already have spottet why so many people get confused on what scrum is, or how specific or expansive it is. Because what scrum is, is a super simple setup, designed to mutate, and test if those mutations are good. Meaning after a while, a team may only have the short meetings every other day. Or have tasks given to sub-teams of 2-3 developers. Or drop the daily meeting and have Sprints that last half a week. Or have moved some of their developers to teams that fits them better, and gotten developers that like the way THIS team works. Or maybe they have a extra meeting in every sprint with a select group of people outside the team that are experienced in working with what the team is currently working on. Or maybe a team does not want to do any part of basic scrum.

And none of these are right or wrong . The ONLY thing that matters is "Does it work for THIS team?".

You may think "But you just described a structure with rules that seem rather strict...". Correct! That is the STARTING point. Meaning very few teams will be running exactly like that, because most teams (hopefully) did not just recently start existing.

But sometimes you also want a reset. A team may not be working well anymore. Maybe some key team members have left the company or gotten other jobs. And it is decided that it is easier to go back to basic scrum and start inventing a new way to do things for the current team. Maybe the team think they might be a bit too used to a current way of doing things to come up with a new one. Maybe the team is dissolved, and its members put into other teams, and a new team is created in its stead to start from basic scrum with individuals from other teams that wants to try new ways of doing things. It is perfect scrum to have a team of veteran developers who have not changed how they develop things in several years because they by now know what they want.

You can easily see why this works, and why it is good. Because if a part is not efficient or the team hates it? Then get rid of it. And it is easy to see why Scrum helps a company become agile. It is a tool that facilitates the worker empowerment and grassroots decisions that agile set as a goal.

You can also see why many companies HATES this. It makes a lot of middle managers unnecessary. It empowers workers to want things, and trains them on how to get them. It stops managers from coming up with "brilliant" new ways to develop software and then force that method onto the developers. Managers who come up with ideas for products will have to explain themselves to the developers, and risk looking silly. In front of the pleb workers!!!. Dear god, costumers will get to see the greasy reality of how the software they want is made! And management have to knowledge that developers are the best at... developing.... And will have to... trust their workers...

A thing you will often hear in defense of not letting teams decide on how to develop, is that if everyone develops in different ways, then nothing will be standardized. Each team may use different tools, languages and architectures! It will be a massive mess!

Which is true... if you completely miss the point. Again, the developers should be free to choose HOW to develop. Not WHAT to develop. The product owner is the major force in deciding what features and products is developed, and standards like code format or use of profiling tools can still be required by management (Which is entirely reasonable).

But the teams get to choose HOW they develop those. A simple example, many people like placing brackets like this: void MyFunction(){ // some code }

But my team prefer doing void MyFunction() { // some code } The idea in scrum, is NOT to allow a team to go "We write however we want!". The idea is "WE decide how we get to the required form". I have worked in a team that simply had a auto-formater build into each of the team members command line tools, so when they pushed to the remote git repo, the code format followed the standard, and when THEY looked at it, it looked how the team preferred it to look. I have seen teams that wanted to work in a different language, so they used a Source-to-source compiler in much the same way.

That is scrum. It is a simple, yet powerful idea.

#codeblr #programming #development #softeware #scrum

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